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Dangerous Neighbors

by Beth Kephart (Goodreads Author)

3.29 of 5 stars 3.29 · rating details · 223 ratings · 72 reviews

It is 1876, the year of the Centennial in Philadelphia. Katherine has lost her twin sister Anna in a tragic skating accident. One wickedly hot September day, Katherine sets out for the exhibition grounds to cut short the haunted life she no longer wants to live.

Filled with vivid detail that artfully brings the past to life, National Book Award nominee Beth Kepart's DANGER...more

Hardcover, 192 pages

Published August 24th 2010 by EgmontUSA

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A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

New YA historical fiction in 2010-2011

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Nov 14, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews, trt-gold-star-award-winner

Reviewed by Melanie Foust for TeensReadToo.com

Anna died in a horrible accident. Katherine, her twin, is convinced there is nothing left to live for. She reaches a high level in a tall building, but her sister's former lover reaches her just in time, begging her to allow him to say something incredibly important.

But Katherine does not stay to listen; neither does her resolve waver. Without Anna, life has lost its meaning. Katherine is on a journey to destruction, but if she takes a closer look at...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Alison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Beth Kephart is not afraid of writing fiction for young adults that makes them think, makes them feel and makes them wonder.

Dangerous Neighbors transported me to 1876 Philadelphia during the Centennial celebration. The place and time were as much a part of this novel as the characters.

The main character, Katherine, was charged with responsibility for her twin sister, Anna, a girl who always took unnecessary risks. It was Katherine's job to keep Anna out of trouble, keep her safe. Ultimately, K...more Beth Kephart is not afraid of writing fiction for young adults that makes them think, makes them feel and makes them wonder.

Dangerous Neighbors transported me to 1876 Philadelphia during the Centennial celebration. The place and time were as much a part of this novel as the characters.

The main character, Katherine, was charged with responsibility for her twin sister, Anna, a girl who always took unnecessary risks. It was Katherine's job to keep Anna out of trouble, keep her safe. Ultimately, Katherine loses her control of Anna when the girls grow up and Anna enters into a forbidden relationship with the baker's son. Unfortunately, Anna never stopped taking risks, and it ended her.

Katherine's character was so complex, struggling with forgiveness, hope, redemption and shame. The one character I wanted to spend more time with, and wished there were another 100 pages to read if only just for him, was William. I can't talk about William without ruining the book, so just read it and see if you feel the same.
This book stayed with me and even though I read it back in August, I have no trouble recalling some of the scenes, as if I were actually there. When simply thinking about a book can bring me back to a whole other place and time, and make me feel what I was feeling while I read it, it's a book to be cherished.

How Beth Kephart managed to fit so much emotion into a brief 192 pages is astonishing. Unfortunately, I had the ARC, which I am not supposed to quote, but her writing! Oh my goodness, there are so many passages I marked, underlined, starred, and dog-eared. Why only 192? Because she didn't need 400 pages. She's that good.

I have had the pleasure of corresponding with Beth, albeit briefly, and I am a loyal reader of her blog. She is kind, and witty, and truly in love with what she does. The book blogs exploded for Beth Kephart's novel The Heart is Not a Size, which made me sit up and take notice of this author. Now I see why. In short, she is a breath of fresh air, and Dangerous Neighbors will not be the last of her books I read.

Different from anything I have ever read before, Beth Kephart raises the bar on Young Adult novels. She proves that you don't need vampires and werewolves to capture this audience's attention, and bring them on a journey they will not soon forget.
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Jun 12, 2012 Liviania rated it 5 of 5 stars

With every book, my respect for Beth Kephart grows. In fact, she's one of those authors that I enjoy so much I have to find the perfect time and place to read her books so that I can finish comfortably and uninterrupted. For NOTHING BUT GHOSTS, this was two locations: my dorm window seat overlooking Oxford High Street and the Oxford Botanical Gardens. For DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS, I tucked into my childhood bed (no longer in my childhood home) and closed the door to keep my desperate-for-affection do...more With every book, my respect for Beth Kephart grows. In fact, she's one of those authors that I enjoy so much I have to find the perfect time and place to read her books so that I can finish comfortably and uninterrupted. For NOTHING BUT GHOSTS, this was two locations: my dorm window seat overlooking Oxford High Street and the Oxford Botanical Gardens. For DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS, I tucked into my childhood bed (no longer in my childhood home) and closed the door to keep my desperate-for-affection dog out of the way.

In DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS, Kephart makes bold stylistic choices. It's told in close third person present. The present is a rough tense, especially when the book moves back and forth in time. The key lies in Kephart's skill. I used the words "bold" and "rough," but those don't suit DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS at all. DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS is fluid and seductive. Kephart plunges right into the action, moving between Katherine's actions during a few days at the Centennial Exhibition and her past with her dead twin Anna at will. It's slightly disorienting but absorbing. Kephart never once underestimates her audience.

In the end, DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS is a short novel. But I didn't feel cheated. I just felt like my time hadn't been wasted on useless scenes or extra words. DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS feels tight. Since the reader delves into Katherine's life for a brief period only, there are open ends. But the important parts - the emotions - those climax.

Historical fiction is not usually my thing, but Kephart pulled me into the world of 1876 Philadelphia. I sympathized with Katherine and Anna the same as I did with the characters of UNDERCOVER despite being so removed from their place. Much of Katherine's inner conflict stems from her feelings about Bennett, who had been Anna's secret lover.

Once upon a time, my sister had a boyfriend she kept secret from our parents. Like Katherine, I knew. Like Katherine, I kept her secret, because however I felt about it, I trusted my sister. Unlike Katherine, my sister is still alive, but that doesn't mean it ended well. I felt betrayed. No one can betray like a sister.

That's the force of Kephart's writing. It is what the stylized prose builds to. Her technical proficiency isn't empty, but a vehicle to deliver emotional truths. Her words have a resonance.

But DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS isn't some stuffy literary work. Kephart doesn't forget the importance of entertainment. There are love stories, new friends, and - of course - danger. (less)

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Mar 01, 2012 Florinda rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read four of Beth Kephart's books in 2010. I also read her blog faithfully, and so I knew that her novel Dangerous Neighbors was both a bit of a departure for her and a long-brewing labor of love. She says in the book's Endnotes:

"During the course of my research for Flow: the Life and Times of Philadelphia's Schuylkill River I began to dream, novelistically, of this Centennial year (1876). About twin sisters and a boy who rescued animals. About a mother so preoccupied with the future that she...more I read four of Beth Kephart's books in 2010. I also read her blog faithfully, and so I knew that her novel Dangerous Neighbors was both a bit of a departure for her and a long-brewing labor of love. She says in the book's Endnotes:

"During the course of my research for Flow: the Life and Times of Philadelphia's Schuylkill River I began to dream, novelistically, of this Centennial year (1876). About twin sisters and a boy who rescued animals. About a mother so preoccupied with the future that she could not see, or protect, the present. About a river with a mind of her own."

Dangerous Neighbors includes all of the elements from Kephart's dream. Having made an impression with several beautifully-written, deeply-felt novels about contemporary teens for the YA market, this is the author's first work of historical fiction. However, even with the change in time period and the use of third-person narration (also a first in Kephart's fiction), this is clearly a Beth Kephart work - beautifully written and deeply felt. I only wish there were more of it.

The preoccupied mother is there - but barely, and by definition, that makes absolute sense. The boy who rescues animals is there, but we don't really get to know him as well as we'd like. The focus of the novel is the twin sisters, Katherine and Anna, whose relationship was becoming ever more complicated before it was rocked by tragedy not long before the summer of the Centennial.

I have a close relationship with my sister, but we are not twins. I've read some fascinating things about the twin bond, though, and Kephart's depiction of the sisters in Dangerous Neighbors seems to reflect them. It's one thing when your best friend seems to be blowing off your company for a guy. But when your best friend is your twin - who has always felt like a part of you - and the guy is someone wholly unsuitable to your family's place in society, it cuts deep. And when she expects you to be her ally in conducting this relationship out of view of your parents, and can't grasp why you aren't as happy as she is...it's not all that hard to understand why Katherine and Anna's relationship has become frayed. Katherine feels lost, and like she's losing Anna. And when she truly does lose her sister, she can only see one way to find her - and herself - again. I felt for Katherine, and longed to see her find another way.

Dangerous Neighbors is a story of grief, guilt, and growth that goes by all too quickly, and that's my only real complaint about it. I like spending time in the worlds that Beth Kephart creates in her fiction; I didn't get enough of it here. Having said that, though, this short novel has no shortage of emotional impact, and I think that with time, it will grow on me.(less)

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Jan 06, 2011 Aura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: twinsies, young-adult, fiction, history

Meh. Supposedly this novel is set during the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial, but we hardly believed it while reading. Kephart's prose is beautiful but disconcertingly contemporary, and considering how interesting the event was in reality, the corresponding historical detail in the book is far from it (not to mention conspicuously absent most of the time).

The story involves sibling dynamics and one sibling's death, which is a common premise that fascinates us. Like similar books, this one has a st...more Meh. Supposedly this novel is set during the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial, but we hardly believed it while reading. Kephart's prose is beautiful but disconcertingly contemporary, and considering how interesting the event was in reality, the corresponding historical detail in the book is far from it (not to mention conspicuously absent most of the time).

The story involves sibling dynamics and one sibling's death, which is a common premise that fascinates us. Like similar books, this one has a strong, complex, slightly-internally-screwed-up narrator who sees a sibling - a twin - as someone painfully different and perhaps impossible to understand. That clash makes for a compelling backstory told in flashbacks that blur with the present, so the line between what happened/is happening is never completely certain. That's all right.

What is less all right is that, as has happened in books like this, the resulting Other Sibling becomes almost a caricature. Other Sibling in this case is Anna, a flighty, dreamy, selfish person with the maturity of a six-year-old and a natural, charismatic strength born from naivete. Never seen that one before, right? So Katherine, the First Sibling, feels constantly overshadowed, less beautiful, left out, yet remains arguably stronger than Anna in the things that matter (reality, for instance). And as a character, she behaves like a human being in that she is more than a rigidly defined personality: she is flawed, rigid, smart, compassionate, and she does, for example, sink sometimes to Anna's level of emotional neediness. She changes - not just as a dynamic character, but from day to day, bad to good to bad to good, and remains identifiable. That's life. Anna, on the other hand, is always just a whimsical piece of risk-taking cardboard.

Identifiable, yes. But all these beautiful two-dimensional doomed angels in literature - they are haunting us!

At least the language really is beautiful. But if you want to see the Katherine/Anna-style character dynamic done better than this - and by 'better' we mean 'with a muted brutality that is stunning' - read A Separate Peace. The characters there aren't siblings, but they don't need to be. (less)

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Sep 15, 2010 Cecelia rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought I was sitting down to read a historical novel, something to do with the Philadelphia Centennial. I thought I knew what to expect. But I didn’t foresee such beauty in the language, such mastery over the written word. I didn’t know I’d want to reread paragraphs to more fully appreciate their poetry. I didn’t realize that Beth Kephart would make me shed tears over hope lost and found again.

I’ve heard about Beth Kephart. When I started blogging and then following other book blogs, I notice...more I thought I was sitting down to read a historical novel, something to do with the Philadelphia Centennial. I thought I knew what to expect. But I didn’t foresee such beauty in the language, such mastery over the written word. I didn’t know I’d want to reread paragraphs to more fully appreciate their poetry. I didn’t realize that Beth Kephart would make me shed tears over hope lost and found again.

I’ve heard about Beth Kephart. When I started blogging and then following other book blogs, I noticed bloggers talking about her and her books. Still, I didn’t pick one up. I didn’t feel a sense of urgency. That has definitely changed – Ms. Kephart is going to go straight into the category of ‘read the entire backlist!’ And mind that exclamation point while you’re at it!

True confession: I’d rather avoid grief and sadness. I know that’s pretty human of me, but I take it farther. If I know ahead of time that a book or a film is going to be melancholy, I avoid it. I’m a bit of a coward. And so, although Dangerous Neighbors sat on my nightstand for over a month, I was hesitant to pick it up. After all, it says right there in the blurb that fate and unbearable loss (hello, tragedy!) are in the picture. But the cover artwork kept calling to me, and then I actually read the first couple of pages. That’s all it took – I was hooked.

There’s a dangerous sort of beauty in Kephart’s prose. It’s complex, it’s beautiful, and it will suck you into its emotion and obsession. Dangerous Neighbors is the story of twin sisters growing up in Philadelphia. It’s the story of a city dressed up in celebration. At the same time, it is a tale of loss and grief and change. It’s tragedy on one side, and redemption (of sorts) on another. I really can’t do justice to it – only to say that it is heartbreaking and also breathtaking.

Another confession: It turns out that I can’t write about the plot, or even very deeply about the characters in this review. It’s not that I don’t want to, you understand. It’s just that whenever I start a paragraph, I somehow end up with sentences crowded with words like ‘literary’ and ‘atmospheric.’ I was deeply impressed by the description and the emotion in this little volume. And so I’ll leave it at that, and let you to discover the ‘doings’ on your own. I strongly suggest that you go out and get a copy NOW. If, you know, it seems like your thing. Or even if it’s not.

Recommended for: fans of literary fiction, spectacular young adult literature, history, tragedy, deliverance, and descriptions so well rendered that they seem tinged with the magical.(less)

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Sep 13, 2010 David Edmonds rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2010

Beth Kephart continues to impress me more and more with her young adult novels. Her ability to pull so much nuance into a story with such ease of language is beautiful. I'd love to spend a day in her head, just to see the world through her eyes; it must be an amazing place to behold. She can create such vivid images and emotions, with the simplest language possible, and every page is filled with more and more. If you haven't had the privilege of reading anything by Beth Kephart, might I recommen...more

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Aug 25, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm not sure how to review this book because there are elements of the plot I do not want to give away, but I will try my best. This is the story of twin sisters Katherine and Anna who are so close, and yet so far apart from each other. Like most twins they are opposites. Katherine is grounded, more responsible, whereas Anna is dreamy, dramatic, living for today. They love each other yet, they are starting to drift apart as they get older. They are misunderstanding each other, not communicating...more I'm not sure how to review this book because there are elements of the plot I do not want to give away, but I will try my best. This is the story of twin sisters Katherine and Anna who are so close, and yet so far apart from each other. Like most twins they are opposites. Katherine is grounded, more responsible, whereas Anna is dreamy, dramatic, living for today. They love each other yet, they are starting to drift apart as they get older. They are misunderstanding each other, not communicating very well at all. Sure they may speak their minds, but they don't comprehend or see the situation from the other's point of view.

Then tragedy strikes. Anna dies and Katherine is left behind, wondering, thinking, blaming herself for things that are out of her control. How Katherine deals with this grief is the main theme of the novel. I completely empathized with Katherine because I view her as the "mom" in the twins relationship. In any groups of friends, especially girls, there is always one girl who is the "mom". She keeps everyone in line, pulls them out of trouble, follows the rules, basically the conscience of the group. That is Katherine, so imagine how she felt when her sister died on her watch. The grief, let alone the self blame is overpowering for her. How can Katherine go on? But she does, the universe tells her she is not at fault, not to blame for Anna's death.

This book is full of love, loss, guilt, and peace. This is a tall order to fill but Kephart's writing brings it all together into 192 pages. Yes, 192 pages can you believe it? Kephart weaved all of these elements together with wonderful descriptions of Philadelphia in 1876, during the Centennial Fair. It could be because I live in Philly, but I was immediately drawn in because of her descriptions of the city, where the landmarks have not changed. Plus the excitement of the Centennial was palpable to me. The exhibits of new inventions, like the telegraph, and foreign countries like Paris, and such, the world was growing and changing so quickly. Anna and Katherine were growing and changing just as quickly. The Centennial and the sisters are alike in that respect, so I think the Exposition is the perfect setting for the story. Plus it demonstrates to Katherine how much life and the world has to show her.

The only aspect I didn't quite get was the title, Dangerous Neighbors. Even as I sit here now, I'm not sure how the title ties into the story. I may need to be bonked on the head with the answer dear readers. Please feel free to bonk away. All in all, this was an enjoyable book and I certainly look forward to reading Kephart's back list.(less)

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Jan 23, 2011 Jacki rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-fiction, historical

Summary: Grieving and filled with survivor's guilt over the loss of her twin sister Anna, Katherine goes to the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition grounds one day intent on committing suicide. However, a host of "dangerous neighbors" (everyday people) keep interrupting her intentions: a girl with a bird, a mother who can't find her little girl, her sister's lover who shares Katherine's grief and guilt. Can Katherine find her way back to a place called hope?

Verdict: Okay, it's girlie and sappy at...more

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Aug 21, 2010 Staci rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Staci by: Winsome Media Blog Tour

Shelves: 2010-reads

2. Words to describe the book: mystery, heartache, sibling love and hatred, growing pains, history, thought-provoking, the U.S. perched precariously on the edge of modern inventions, women's suffrage, and a changing society.

3. Location or characters you met:

* Katherine: She is the youngest of twin girls, yet she has always felt responsible for the welfare of her sister Anna. She's thoughtful, quiet, contemplative, follows the rules, and takes much to heart.
* Anna : She is the impulsive twin an...more 2. Words to describe the book: mystery, heartache, sibling love and hatred, growing pains, history, thought-provoking, the U.S. perched precariously on the edge of modern inventions, women's suffrage, and a changing society.

3. Location or characters you met:

* Katherine: She is the youngest of twin girls, yet she has always felt responsible for the welfare of her sister Anna. She's thoughtful, quiet, contemplative, follows the rules, and takes much to heart.
* Anna : She is the impulsive twin and though she doesn't mean to be hurtful, many of her actions could pose disastrous consequences to her sister and family. She's a dreamer and sees no difference between classes in society. She's ruled by her heart and rarely ever thinks with her head.
* Philadelphia: This city is so rich in U.S. history and it's one that I want to visit some time in the future.
* 1876 Centennial Exhibition- directly quoted from book-" a World's Fair of unprecedented proportion that brought upwards of 10 million people to fairgrounds just west of central Philadelphia during a six-month period." Can you just imagine how crazy and exhilarating this time in history would have been for those that lived there?

4. Things you liked/disliked:

* The writing was simply exquisite. I've read almost all of Kephart's work and believe that she is a pure word poet. The scenes flow into one another seamlessly and the descriptive words that she used invoked quite sharp and vivid pictures in my mind!
* Being a bit of a history buff, I was totally enthralled with the Centennial Fair and all that it encompassed. I love a book that makes me want to do some research. I also love a book that uncovers a time period of United States history that I knew nothing about!
* I enjoyed the love story between Anna and her baker. Oh, to be young, naive, and so in love with someone that you would pretty much risk all sorts of wrath just to be with that person.
* I ached for Katherine. As a mother, I wanted to grab her and crush her to my heart to give her some sort of comfort. Comfort that her own mother refused to acknowledge and to give. I am glad that Katherine's father seemed to be somewhat attuned to Katherine's emotions.
* I absolutely was thrilled to see that Beth has made a teacher's guide for this novel. My teacher's are always looking for books that will be interesting, informational, and exciting. Having a guide makes it that much easier to recommend to a teacher who is looking for an unique time period of United States history to share and enrich our children's education.
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Aug 10, 2010 Serena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Beth Kephart‘s Dangerous Neighbors, which hits stores on August 24, is set in 1876 in Philadelphia on the verge of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the United States as two sisters, twins, struggle with changes in their relationship and find the ability to fly on their own.

Katherine and Anna may be twins, but they are very different with Anna considered the beauty and adventurous one and Katherine as the dependable protector. As adolescence hits and Anna falls in love with the baker’s son,...more

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Aug 12, 2010 Lillie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley, bea10, for-review, i-own, paperback, review-copy, egmontusa

DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS begins at the end. Katherine has lost her sister, Anna. She finds herself cast adrift during a time when the city of her birth is celebrating the centennial of the nation's birth. It's very clear that Katherine deeply mourns her sister. The first few pages unfold so beautifully that I found myself caught up in Kephart's words instantly. I turned the pages, one after the other, completely engaged. It wasn't just that Kephart had such rich characterization for Katherine. Anna i...more

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Jan 31, 2011 Bethany Miller rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: royal-january

2.5 stars

The setting is Philadelphia in 1876, and the Centennial fair is in full swing showcasing the best that the United States and the world have to offer. It’s an exciting time, but seventeen year old Katherine is unmoved by it. She is too consumed with grieving the loss of her twin sister Anna. For most of their lives Katherine and Anna were as close as two sisters could be, but then Anna starts seeing Bennett and everything changes. Katherine feels her sister slipping away from her but can...more

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Mar 13, 2011 Mary rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is a story about a teenage girl whose twin sister has died, set in a backdrop of the centennial celebration in Philadelphia. I don't like it much and I don't think it is very good. The author's concept of trying to set the historical scene seems to be to have the equivalent of an 1876 product placement - lots of capitalized brand names bandied about, but no other real sense of the time and place. She probably did a lot of reading research, but this comes out in impossible ways - a devastati...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Khris Sellin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Set in Philadelphia in 1876, in the midst of the Centennial Exhibition, 17-year-old Katherine is headed there for a different reason than most. After the loss of her twin sister Anna, she is wracked with guilt and sorrow and wants to end it all.

The sisters had once been as close as you would imagine twin sisters would be. Then Anna falls in love with Bennett, the "baker boy," and Katherine feels her drifting further and further away. She's always felt protective of Anna, but finally decides she...more

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Aug 01, 2010 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, read-in-2010, young-adult

Although this is my first Beth Kephart novel, I've got several of her books on my TBR pile because I've heard such great things. I really wanted to read this one when I heard about it because it sounded like something right up my alley.

Overall, I would describe this novel as haunting. It's not particularly 'fun' or even entertaining. But, its a strong novel - well written and it really sticks with you!

This novel is historical fiction, Young Adult style. It's based in Philadelphia in 1876, duri...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Sara Liebman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-lit

At first, I wasn't really sure what this book was about other than Katherine lost her twin sister Anna in a sort of mysterious way. Once I understood the context - the Philadelphia World's Fair in the 1870's, I was able to ground my perception of the story. I thought the writing was beautiful - lyrical, descriptive...I just find it hard to categorize it as Young Adult, because it's sort of difficult to read, even though it is a fairly short story. I doubt that anyone younger than 8th grade would...more

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Dec 29, 2010 Rachel rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: don-t-bother

Spoiler!!

I thought this book was going to take an entirely different turn. There were a few instances where I thought it was insinuated that Katherine had had an affair with Bennett. In my head, Anna's death was going to be something juicy; Bennett realized that Katherine was less superficial than her twin and fell in love with her. Anna finds out and kills herself. I was disappointed that what really happened with Anna turned out to be boring.

I also was not a fan of the end. Katherine decides n...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Jessie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: usa

I thought this was going to be a good book, I really did. What a disappointment.

Novels involving teen death/suicide usually appeal to me, which is why I picked this one up, but Dangerous Neighbors was rather dull. I don't mind when books have flashbacks but I thought the way they were done made the book choppy and a little hard to rememeber wether we were in the past or present.

I was hoping that somewhere along the way a climax would build up and lead to a thrill of an ending. It ended more like...more

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Jun 13, 2011 Lolene rated it 1 of 5 stars

I will be reviled by all people literary for giving this book just one star. It is evidently the darling child of all-who-know-better-than-I. Beth Kephart's writing IS elegant and clean...but for some reason, it just made me angry. It felt like she was trying SO HARD to be poetic that the story suffered. I agree with something I read from Orson Scott Card once--and I paraphrase--it doesn't matter how well-written a book may be if we don't care about the story or the characters. I just wanted a g...more

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Aug 08, 2010 Proud Book Nerd rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: do-not-have, historical-fiction, ya

I'm not entirely sure what to say about this book. It was quite different from what I've been reading as of late, but not in a bad way. It was more descriptive, and less action-based. It seemed lyrical to me. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but I know it's not what I got. That's not necessarily a bad thing –I think that's why I'm not sure what to say about it. So, I'm going to collect my thoughts, and you can read the full review on my blog visit ...more

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Dec 13, 2011 Bethany Eliason rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lit

When I first read the premise for this book, I was really excited to read it. I have never read anything about the Philadelphia Centennial, but I have heard that it was a extremely exciting event in history. And I really liked the idea of having this event in the background as this girl, Katherine, is grieving her sister's death. I was wondering how the author would combine these two events.

Unfortunately, after a few chapters, I started to get bored. I was expecting the book to be more centered...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, wishlist, historical-fiction, suicide

In the 19th century, during the year of the Centennial, two sisters are bound tightly by the fact that they are twins. Katherine has made it her life to look after her frail sister Anna, who always seems aloof, and easily distracted into danger. When an ugly bout of fate rips them apart, Katherine no longer knows her place in the world. Who is she if she is not her sister's protector? Why should she go on living?

This story was very fascinating, and I loved the time period. The hustle and bustle...more

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Jan 16, 2011 Bookworm1858 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2011, historical-fiction, ya-read, sisters

Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart
Egmont, 2010
166 pages
YA; Historical
3/5 stars

Source: Library

Summary: Ever since Katherine's twin sister Anna died, she has felt alone and guilty of causing the death. In 1876, during the Centennial fair in Philadelphia, Katherine goes to the fairgrounds to end her own life.

Thoughts: As I had enjoyed one of Kephart's other books and had seen this title around the blogosphere, I decided to pick this book up. I was especially excited to see that it was set in Phila...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: youngadult, historical-fiction, books-i-own, favorite-authors, favorites, 2010-favorites

Originally reviewed at my site There's A Book.

Short and Sweet: A beautiful story of sisterhood and overcoming the greatest of losses to begin anew. Don’t miss this book, one of my favorite reads of 2010!

Full Review:
Katherine and Anna were the best of friends, sisters, twins to be exact. Throughout Katherine’s life Anna has been a constant driving force, her ever present companion and Katherine, her guardian. When something more powerful than sisterhood comes between them and Anna’s fate is seale...more Originally reviewed at my site There's A Book.

Short and Sweet: A beautiful story of sisterhood and overcoming the greatest of losses to begin anew. Don’t miss this book, one of my favorite reads of 2010!

Full Review:
Katherine and Anna were the best of friends, sisters, twins to be exact. Throughout Katherine’s life Anna has been a constant driving force, her ever present companion and Katherine, her guardian. When something more powerful than sisterhood comes between them and Anna’s fate is sealed Katherine must wade through the mist of the unknown. All the while the celebration of the Philadelphia Centennial of 1876 is going on and Katherine is struggling to overcome this, the loss of her truest and most meaningful companion. Dangerous Neighbors is a story of sisterhood, love and hope; one you will not soon forget.

Stunning. To use a single word to describe Beth Kephart’s writing and the telling of Katherine’s journey, it would be stunning. Beginning with the beautiful backdrop of the Philadelphia Centennial, you sense that Katherine is swept up in not only her emotional and physical loss, but also the near-constant commotion of all that is going on around her. This only adds to Katherine’s isolation and feelings of emptiness at the loss of her dear sister. And to be honest, I’m generally not a reader of historical fiction, but the way in which the background blended into the sorrow Katherine was overcoming was seamless and powerful.

Not only was the setting the perfect place to connect with, but the struggle of Katherine’s character is what makes the book so compelling. Being that I grew up in home with no brothers and only two younger sisters I found myself connecting to Katherine in a very personal way. Those that have siblings know that the bonds between each other, though trying at times, are nearly impossible to break and I can only imagine with twins it’s even that much stronger. And then to lose one tragically would be unbearable. Katherine’s guilt and subsequent resolution was something I could completely relate to, not because of my own siblings but because of a friend who had died a few years ago. There is a part of you that wishes you could change things, that you could have said something different or stopped it in some way. But through a series of events Katherine is able to find hope, and be at peace with the circumstances. It was comforting in a way I didn’t think was possible.

As I mentioned, I’m a huge fan of Beth’s writing and I just have to share one of my favorite passages from the book:

The bird has gone off on some tune. Short, unsustained notes – more like questions than songs. The rustling of its feathers is like the sound of a hand cupped to an ear – that space between the hand and the ear, where the heartbeat echos.
Lift.
Drag.
Thrust.
Gravity.
The mechanics, Katherine reminds herself, of flight.
Yes, she has it right: Lift. Drag. Thrust. Gravity. It will be over soon.
p. 38-39 Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart, ARC

It’s this passage and so many more that draw me to Beth’s writing. Simple and elegant. Each word placed in just the correct line to make the words speak like notes on a page, creating music in your mind. As someone who is more musically inclined than any other talent I may posses, I would say without a doubt her writing is the closest I come to actually playing an instrument or singing. It’s just beautiful.

As you can likely tell Dangerous Neighbors was one of my favorite reads this year, possibly ever. For some reason, either Beth’s writing, Katherine’s character itself, the circumstances or all of these things combined made it a book that truly spoke to me. For anyone struggling to overcome the loss of a loved one or even a transition into a new stage of life I would highly recommend this book; as well as to those who enjoy beautifully written historical fiction or just an amazing young adult novel. Dangerous Neighbors is about love, trust, friendship, loss, grief, hope, and so much more. You would be missing a great deal if you didn’t pick up this book some time in the very near future.(less)

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Jul 12, 2010 Yan rated it 3 of 5 stars

After Anna's death, Katherine continues to blame herself for not being there to protect Anna, for giving up on her too soon, for losing a twin that was her closest friend. She revisits old place and new wonders at the Philadelphia Centennial fair of 1876 while running away from Bennett, Anna's lover, of a message he wants to deliver for he is a dangerous neighbor that her Papa warned them about. But Katherine has to face him eventually and now is better than later.

And then there is William.
Dang...more After Anna's death, Katherine continues to blame herself for not being there to protect Anna, for giving up on her too soon, for losing a twin that was her closest friend. She revisits old place and new wonders at the Philadelphia Centennial fair of 1876 while running away from Bennett, Anna's lover, of a message he wants to deliver for he is a dangerous neighbor that her Papa warned them about. But Katherine has to face him eventually and now is better than later.

And then there is William.
Dangerous Neighbors has an intimate narration that conveys a deep sense of remorse and sadness like a constant rain cloud looming over the reader. Even the most cheerful scenes is told in mourning. Perhaps by reading novel on the day predicted for a thunderstorm I was already tired before reading, but something about Dangerous Neighbors had me gently lolling off every so chapters.

For a short novel, a novella really, Dangerous Neighbors manages to fill its space as well as any 300 paged novels, and compared to some, even better. It is compact for easy access and easy carry.

The past—before Anna's death—and the present—after Anna's death— eventually blurred for me. Sometimes I find it frustrating, but the majority of the time I feel it portrays what Katherine must feel. Stuck in some form of limbo. Yet the past showcases Anna in a light that I found displeasing to read. She was incredibly selfish and self-centered that I neither pity her nor like her. Yet it makes me wonder if love can make one so incredibly selfish. It was all-consuming love that was told from the sister's point of view therefore it does nothing to the reader; I did not sigh, smile, or tsk tsk the happy couple. I was not present in those moments. Anna, in my eyes, will continue to be that selfish girl and despite being a twin to Katherine, shows a level of maturity several years younger. Katherine on the other hand is middle-aged. She is the responsible type yet appears to be lost without Anna.

Dangerous Neighbors is a well-written novella that goes in-depth describing the fair as well as letting go some of the past for the future. This was my first Beth Kephart novel, but it will definitely not be my last.(less)

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Sep 26, 2010 Sara Grochowski rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

At times, when I'm reading one of Beth Kephart's novels, I find myself distracted by the gorgeous phrasing and richly described settings and characters. It's easy to find oneself swept away by the beautiful writing, but I always remind myself to go beyond that aspect Kephart's novels because the writing isn't meant to distract readers from a mediocre tale: Kephart is a thought-provoking storyteller as well.

DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS is a slim volume, but the I felt Katherine and Anna's story fit well w...more

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Nov 28, 2010 Carol rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lit

I'm not sure why this is getting such good buzz--I had to force myself to read it. I didn't care about the characters, didn't get the title, and the ending made no sense. It's technically historical fiction, but there was little historical about it except the Philadelphia World's Fair (which didn't contribute in any way to the story) and the fact that the main character's sister fell in love with someone "below her station." It's going to be hard for me to recommend this to anyone.

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Apr 04, 2011 April Suter rated it 3 of 5 stars

A young adult novel in a historical setting. A set of twins living in Philadelphia during 1876's centennial celebration enter into adulthood, separate but together. Their father warns them about "Dangerous Neighbors" and this book deals with how the twins apply his advice. It jumps in time often so it would be harder for a lower level reader but a teenager could identify feelings the twins experience in the novel.
176 pages.

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Jun 13, 2013 Lefty Kalaitzis rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought this book was really cool mainly because it was written from such a unique perspective. This story takes place in the past in the late 1800's the main character Katherine is coping with the loss of her sister afetr she commits suicide and is experiencing a rough time. The author shows the deep depression of Katherine in her details. I thought this book was pretty good.

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About Beth Kephart

Though I've been writing since I was nine years old, I didn't publish beyond my high school literary journal until I was a new mother. My first published essay was in Iowa Woman; subsequently, I published short stories in dozens of literary magazines—learning, always, what worked or what didn't by reading far more than I wrote.

My first book, A SLANT OF SUN, a memoir, was a National Book Award fin...more

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“Anna would say that she was a cat like Gemma, with nine lives to spend, all nine precious and delicious.” — 1 person liked it

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