Dangerous Skies

Dangerous Skies is the story of a friendship that takes root among the grasses and mud flats of the back creeks of the Chesapeake Bay. Buck Smith is descended from the settlers who came from England in the 1700s to farm Virginia's Eastern Shore, Tunes Smith from slaves who were brought from Africa to work the Smith farm. They were raised together from infancy; their friendship is as true and constant as the tides. But as they have grown older, the adults around them have become more watchful, and even though Buck resists the inevitable tug of change in their lives, some changes like the seasons, cannot be stopped. Then the sudden and horrifying events of a spring afternoon change their world forever.

Awards and Citations:

- IRA Notable Books for a Global Society, 1997
- ALA Best Book for YA
- NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts, 1997
- Publishers Weekly Best Book of 1996
- Children's Book of the Year, Child Study Committee of Bank Street College
- Dutch Foundation for the Collective Promotion of the Dutch Book Golden
     and Silver Kisses recommendation, 1999 (Amsterdam)
- The Black Experience in Children's Books, 1999
- Maud Hart Lovelace Award, Minnesota Youth Reading Awards, 1999-2000
- Virginia Young Readers Program Reading List
- Pennsylvania School Librarians Association's Best of Best Fiction, 1996
- Parents' Choice Gold Award, 1996

Reviews:

This masterfully crafted story boldly conveys uncomfortable truths about society while expressing the innocence of children, ages 8-12.
–-Publishers Weekly starred review

 

This novel takes a frightening look at the depth and effects of racism in modern society. It is a powerful and painful tale of a young boy's personal exploration of prejudice, friendship, and honesty.
–-Children’s Literature

Dangerous Skies is one of the most powerful works of adolescent fiction I have read in a long time. Staples, who so successfully conveyed the exotic Pakistani land and culture in Shabanu and Haveli, turns to the Chesapeake Bay area for the setting of this suspenseful and poignant story of the mixed-race friendship of Buck and Tunes Smith. This is a gripping story with stunning prose and a realistic ending. Readers will not soon forget the characters of Dangerous Skies.
–-The ALAN Review