DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN

Although Sisi Aisha Johnson's expression and narration fit the teenaged characters, this story seems a bit forced, weighed down by too many problems and issues. The protagonist, Keisha Mongomery, a junior in high school, has to deal with a boyfriend's suicide, a friend's death from a car accident, a friend's anorexia, attempted rape, and more. Johnson's soft-spoken voice and intonation bring alive the true-to-life dialogue and banter of these adolescents as they deal with all these problems. Draper has good intentions in trying to present real-life scenarios in which teens cope and find some comfort in friendships, but the problems seem too many for one high school career. D.L.M. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 03]