{"product_id":"trading-dreams-at-midnight-a-novel-isbn-9780060555948","title":"Trading Dreams at Midnight: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the author of \u003cem\u003eBlues Dancing\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eTumbling\u003c\/em\u003e—a writer who “ought to be classified among the best of all contemporary fiction writers period” (\u003cem\u003eDetroit Free Press\u003c\/em\u003e)—comes a riveting novel about the desire for redemption and rebirth\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoving across moments in time, Trading Dreams tells the story of a woman and the grandmother she is deeply connected by love and terrible pain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\tFor years, 33-year-old Neena has waged a relentless search for Freeda, the mother who abandoned her 20 years ago. Neena supports herself by blackmailing married men, but when a stong goes wrong, she finds herself on the run, back to her younger sister, Tish, in Philadelphia. But returning brings terrible grief—and unexpected hope as Neena learns to face the past, her grandmother, and herself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\tA settled church lady and gifted seamstress, Nan is devoted to her granddaughter, Tish, who is soon to become a mother herself. A vibrant, passionate woman, Nan worries that in some way she caused her daughter Freeda’s instability. Neena’s returning holds unexpected consequences for Nan, too, and eventually she must confront her denial and fears—about the past and the future. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\tIn a style that has been characterized as “accessible Toni Morrison,” and “literary Terry McMillan,” Diane McKinney-Whetstone has crafted another powerful story of love, loss, community, and healing that captures what it means to be human.\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003eNeena's mother, Freeda, disappeared on a cold February morning in 1984, leaving the fifteen-year-old Neena and her younger sister, Tish, in the care of Nan, their stern grandmother. Two decades later, Neena—no longer living in Philadelphia—supports herself by blackmailing married men. Returning to her childhood home when a sting goes terribly wrong, she avoids her grandmother while attempting to pull one last hustle on a prominent local lawyer. But discovering that Tish has been hospitalized with pregnancy complications forces Neena to come to terms with the woman who raised her and the truth about the woman who abandoned her. As Neena, Tish, and Nan reunite, each confronts her own memories of the past and dreams for the future. \u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“McKinney-Whestone is masterful as rendering the spaces between people, giving to the air that separates them a taste, a texture, a soul.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePhiladelphia Inquirer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Captivating.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDetroit Free Press\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A smart, careful writer . . . with abundant style and irresistible charm.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWashington Post Book World\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Publishers are missing the readers who fueled the early ‘90s African-American literary boom that propelled novels by Terry McMillan, Alice Walker and Toni Morrison onto the bestseller lists and ushered in new, exciting authors like Diane McKinney-Whetstone.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“She ought to be classified among the best of all contemporary fiction writers, period.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDetroit Free Press\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Heartfelt fourth from McKinney-Whetstone, who has a true talent for strong characters, effortlessly natural dialogue, and prose that flows.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Diane McKinney-Whetstone finds a way to connect with her characters—and makes us do the same. . . . The story takes several surprising twists. . . . In McKinney-Whetstone’s orbit, characters evolve in painful and poignant ways.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEssence (Book Club Pick)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A compelling story. . . . In evocative prose, she re-creates the world of 1940s and 1950s Philadelphia with passionate emotion in a moving novel of love, loss, redemption, and healing.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEbony\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Recalls community unity. . . . Vividly drawn characters set in her hometown of Philadelphia. . . . Recreates the world of 1940s and ‘50s Philadelphia. . . . McKinney-Whetstone’s stories provide a compelling flashback to a not-so-long-ago past.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePhiladelphia Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Diane McKinney-Whetstone brings us a hauntingly beautiful story of mothers and daughters, love and pain. . . . A hard-hitting, bittersweet novel about a family of black women who stand tough as times get tougher. . . The author writes novels that never need a sequel. They are so complete you know that all is well with the characters that you have come to love. This latest offering is no different. Her loyal readers will not be disappointed. Diane McKinney-Whetstone pens yet another African American literary classic.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAfrican American Literature Book Club\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Offers up both wrenching and sweet truths that feel familiar to any reader, in a series of uncloying, unpredictable plotlines. The result is a book that feels honest, filled with people you want to keep reading about.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePhiladelphia Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Wistful, melodious, contemplative, McKinney-Whetstone’s prose feels inspired by the tenor sax central to this story…McKinney-Whetstone’s fourth novel is remarkable for the rich development of all its characters” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“McKinney-Whetstone’s gifts as a writer continue to fascinate.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSan Francisco Chronicle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“McKinney-Whetstone weaves an intricate tapestry of love, pain and memory. . . . Philly is as much a character as the women. . . . Neena’s dire straits are nicely handled and provide a pretty sharp hook.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Talented African American author McKinney-Whetstone returns . . . with another poignant, multigenerational story set in west Philadelphia. . . . An achingly tender portrait of familial love and pain.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“[A] poignant, multigenerational story. . . . An achingly tender portrait of familial love and pain.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Once again McKinney-Whetstone writes with empathy, compassion, and discernment. . . . Raw pain is described with devastating accuracy. . . . A beautifully written and poignant work about the power and limitations of family love.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBookPage\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper Perennial","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44887575757029,"sku":"NP9780060555948","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780060555948.jpg?v=1730226997","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/trading-dreams-at-midnight-a-novel-isbn-9780060555948","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}