Comfort

( 3 )

All Available Formats + Editions

$0.99

$6.29

Paperback

$0.99

$6.29

Comfort (Reprint) Pub. Date: 6/7/2004 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
$0.99

$14.55

Hardcover

$0.99

$14.55

Comfort Pub. Date: 3/25/2002 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Want to read this on your NOOK? Request as NOOK Book from the publisher

Thank you for requesting this book as a NOOK book from the publisher.

Customers Who Bought This Also Bought

ADVERTISING

Overview

Nothing ever happened here. Nothing ever would.

Fifteen-year-old Kenny Wilson wants nothing more than to get out of Comfort, Texas—fast. Only three things stand in his way: getting enough money together, convincing Cindy Blackwell to go with him, and escaping the clawlike grip of his mother.
Amidst these problems, Kenny must also contend with tumultuous feelings about his alcoholic father (newly released from prison) and his growing guilt over leaving his baby brother behind in a wake of dysfunction. But as life at home becomes even more unbearable and threatens to destroy his plans, he is determined not to lose his dreams to a lifetime of waiting tables in his mama’s rundown café. Propelled by desire and despair, Kenny discovers the power of words and how they can change lives in ways he never dared to hope for. He comes to realize that there’s a time to stop running and take a stand.

Fourteen-year-old Kenny Roy Willson fantasizes about escape from his hometown of Comfort, Texas, following his alcoholic father's release from prison.

Editorial Reviews

The small town of Comfort, Texas, does not confine the dreams of high school freshman Kenny Williams, but his family's lifestyle threatens those dreams daily. His alcoholic, ex-prisoner father and desperate scheming mother provide little support even though they do care about Kenny, and three-year-old Roy, Jr. in their own ways. Kenny works like an unpaid servant in the family's truck stop café to fulfill his mother's dream of making Roy Dan Willson, Sr., a guitar singing star. Remarkably, Kenny finds his own talent in the University Interscholastic League Poetry Contest for high school students. Memorable characters are revealed against a fast-paced film-like setting. This author's first novel contains tragicomic elements, and mature subject matter related to physical abuse, alcohol, guns, robbery, and abortion. And to elevate the read, there are references to renowned poets Robert Frost and Maya Angelou, among others. 2002, Houghton Mifflin, 230 pp.,
— Mary Annelle Baker

More Reviews (1) Fewer Reviews

From The Critics

Fifteen-year-old Kenny Wilson has dreams. And none of them include slaving for his domineering mama at her café or chauffeuring around his ex-con drunk of a daddy. As soon as his freshman year is over and he has enough money to get a decent start, Kenny plans to leave the stifling town of Comfort, Texas, and begin again in Dallas. A key to his financial plans is to place well in the University Interscholastic League, a real program that has aided young adults in Texas for years, including the author herself. Reading poetry with Cindy, a senior at Kenny's school, is just about the only thing that gives Kenny comfort in Comfort. Meanwhile, his mama is determined to forge Daddy into the best country and western singer who's ever lived, at the same time keeping him off the bottle. All Daddy wants is to get a job and to recover some of the respect he's lost. In this well-thought-out first novel, however, one has the feeling that everyone's plans and expectations will come to naught. Heartbreak and violence lie just over the horizon. This well-paced story stays on track for the most part. Its excellent thematic message could be exactly what many young readers need to hear: Don't be afraid to jump out of your comfort zone in order to chase your dreams. 2002, Houghton Mifflin,
— Christopher Moning

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780618138463
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date: 3/25/2002
Pages: 240
Age range: 12 - 17 Years
Lexile: 670L (what's this?)
Product dimensions: 5.50 (w) x 8.25 (h) x 0.75 (d)

Meet the Author

Carolee Dean has crafted a tough and knotty story about life in a small, southern town where poetry slams, country music, and family conflicts coil in a tangle of tragedy and hope. Carolee Dean is a speech pathologist who lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her husband and three children. This is her first novel.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 3 I wiped down the counter while Mama busied herself off in the back with the tapes returned from record producers in Nashville. So far not one of them had recognized the vocal talents of Roy Dan Willson, and it was driving Mama crazy. It had only been two weeks and already everything Mama had sent out had been returned. I wondered if anybody ever listened to the tapes or if they just sent them back as soon as they arrived.
Mama muttered under her breath as she put new mailing labels on the brown envelopes and got ready to send them out again. “No ear for talent,” she said half a dozen times. “I don’t understand it,” Mama droned as she hid the extra tapes behind the dishwashing soap. It was a place Daddy was sure never to look. “They come back so fast. It just ain’t logistical.” “Do you mean it ain’t ‘logical’?” I said, doubting that she was talking about the logistics of mailing items between Nashville and Comfort.
Mama shoved a mop bucket at me. “I meant whatever I said, and I said whatever I meant. Now go clean the floor in the dining room.” I carried the bucket out front and started mopping from one side of the dining room to the other, wondering how I’d ever find the time to prepare for the poetry competition.
Mrs. Peterson says words have power. If that’s true then the most potent thing in my life during that time when Daddy first got home was the word “Dallas.” That’s where I was going. I wasn’t stupid about it, though. I watched the news and Sixty Minutes. I knew what happened to runaways out on the streets. I wasn’t going to be out on the streets. I had a plan. And I wasn’t running away. I was merely going to relocate prematurely. The mistake most kids make is that they fly off the handle and get scared or mad at their parents and just take off from home without thinking about it ahead of time. Not me. I’d been thinking about leaving for a long time.

First Chapter

Chapter 3
I wiped down the counter while Mama busied herself off in the back with the tapes returned from record producers in Nashville. So far not one of them had recognized the vocal talents of Roy Dan Willson, and it was driving Mama crazy. It had only been two weeks and already everything Mama had sent out had been returned. I wondered if anybody ever listened to the tapes or if they just sent them back as soon as they arrived.
Mama muttered under her breath as she put new mailing labels on the brown envelopes and got ready to send them out again. 'No ear for talent,' she said half a dozen times. 'I don't understand it,' Mama droned as she hid the extra tapes behind the dishwashing soap. It was a place Daddy was sure never to look. 'They come back so fast. It just ain't logistical.'
'Do you mean it ain't 'logical'?' I said, doubting that she was talking about the logistics of mailing items between Nashville and Comfort.
Mama shoved a mop bucket at me. 'I meant whatever I said, and I said whatever I meant. Now go clean the floor in the dining room.'
I carried the bucket out front and started mopping from one side of the dining room to the other, wondering how I'd ever find the time to prepare for the poetry competition.
Mrs. Peterson says words have power. If that's true then the most potent thing in my life during that time when Daddy first got home was the word 'Dallas.'
That's where I was going. I wasn't stupid about it, though. I watched the news and Sixty Minutes. I knew what happened to runaways out on the streets. I wasn't going to be out on the streets. I had a plan. And I wasn't running away. I was merely going to relocate prematurely. The mistakemost kids make is that they fly off the handle and get scared or mad at their parents and just take off from home without thinking about it ahead of time. Not me. I'd been thinking about leaving for a long time.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5

( 3 )

Rating Distribution

( 2 )
( 0 )
( 1 )
( 0 )
( 0 )

If you've bought this product, tell the world how you liked it.

Write a Review

arodriguezf

Posted May 8, 2010

more from this reviewer

A must-read next to Anne Frank

Ive never read a more grasping novel like Comfort which provides that in the end after roller coasters of emotional distress & realistic scenarios like abortion, armed robbery, choiceless decisions that seem to lead to the feared dead end people face like the protagonist in this novel. Really captures the Texas scenery well
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Anonymous

Posted December 26, 2008

Okay Novel That Was More Than A "Light Read" (Reviewed by TheBookworm)

Comfort by Carolee Dean
Publication Date: March 2002
3.5 out of 5 stars
PG-13 Sexual References, Alcohol Abuse, Brief Profanity, and Violence
Recommended

High school student Kenny is forced by his selfish mother to help at their family owned café. He is a member of the family so he helps out, but when his mother who has already taken away football and band declares he is not allowed to enter the one contest that may help him escape his mama, she goes to far. With the return of his alcoholic father who was just released from prison, Kenny realizes the time for escape from his lying father and abusive mother is shortening. All he has to do is come up with 300 more dollars and a way to get Cindy Blackwell to run away with him. But his prison guard-like mother isn¿t the only thing holding him back, it¿s the guilt and knowledge that he is leaving his toddler brother in the very same unloving conditions he¿s trying to escape.

Comfort was an okay novel that explored a high school boy¿s actions and thoughts while living in an abusive environment.

The main character, Kenny, was realistic though a little blind-sighted to life`s joys. He had hopes and dreams of escape that appeared more tantalizing after every demeaning humiliation. Kenny was a caring person when he chose to be, but could also be hard and stubborn. He was a human being barely enduring the stress and torment. A character who I wanted to pity but knew he had a lesson to learn first.

The twists in the plot are what kept the novel moving. If this book hadn¿t served the occasional slap to the unsuspecting face, I could have easily joined Kenny in his hurting world with little hope of escaping.

I enjoyed the insightful ¿lesson¿ the author centered the book around. From page 171, ¿ Your words have power, Kenny. They can give people hope, and courage, and confidence. And they need that.¿ The fact that something you say can effect other people around you is an uncommonly shared, but true actuality. Words have power, we just need to know how to use them.

I recommend Comfort for teens who wish to read a book that¿s more than a ¿light-read¿.

Date Reviewed: December 23rd, 2008

For more book reviews and book information check out my blog at www.inthecurrent.blogspot.com
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Anonymous

Posted June 17, 2005

OUTSTANDING!!!

Comfort is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. Carolee Dean did a fantastic job in writing this book. If you like books with a lot of drama, this is the perfect book for you! A++!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble

Comfort

Overview

All Available Formats + Editions

Customers Who Bought This Also Bought

More About This Book

Overview

Editorial Reviews

From The Critics

Product Details

Meet the Author

Read an Excerpt

First Chapter

Rating Distribution

A must-read next to Anne Frank

Okay Novel That Was More Than A "Light Read" (Reviewed by TheBookworm)

OUTSTANDING!!!