BIBLIOGRAPHY Smith, Hope Anita. 2008. Keeping the Night Watch . Ill. By E.B. Lewis. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN: 9780805072020. CRITICAL ANALYSIS KEEPING THE NIGHT WATCH is a collection of free verse poems by Hope Anita Smith. Through her poetic storytelling, we learn the about the story of C.J., an African-American teen who stepped into the father role when his dad temporarily abandoned their family. He became the man of the house, caring for his two younger siblings and staying strong for his momma and grandmomma. But what is his role once dad returns? And how does a son forgive a father for abandoning the family? These questions are beautifully explored throughout this poetry collection. The organization of the poems is critical to the arc of forgiveness between the father and the son. The collection is separated into the seasons of Fall and Spring, which represent the death and rebirth of the relationship between the two critical characters, C.J. ...
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