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penny candy

a confection
4.59 goodreads logo

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( 17 ratings, 2 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
penny candy: a confection follows 12-year-old Jon-Jon and his family as they navigate running Paw Paw's Candy Tree from their small apartment in Pleasant Grove, Dallas. Amidst rising violence, drug epidemics, and racial tensions, the family's business struggles and danger lurks just beyond their door.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4600

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers interested in contemporary drama, social issues, and compelling family stories rooted in real-world challenges.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

In this strikingly inventive autobiographical work of drama, Jonathan Norton delves into the story of American systemic racism, illustrating life for one Dallas household and their candy shop during the drug epidemic of the late 1980's.

Select events planned for US bookstores and literary festivals, particularly Dallas/North Texas-area Print and digital publicity targeting Texas Monthly, Dallas Morning News, KERA,Electric Literature, Book Riot, Full Stop, The Millions, and others Promotion at or events pitched for Brooklyn Book Festival, Texas Book Festival, and Winter Institute Review copies will be sent targeting all major print and digital literary media outlets, reviewers, and booksellers; additional copies available upon request Promotion on the publisher’s website (deepvellum.org), Twitter feed (@deepvellum), and Facebook page (/deepvellum); and publisher’s e-newsletter "

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

penny candy: a confection, which had its acclaimed premiere at the Dallas Theater Center in 2019, follows one family as they seek to balance their responsibilities to their community and to one another.

Growing up in a candy house sounds like every kid's dream. But for 12-year-old Jon-Jon, helping his father run Paw Paw's Candy Tree out of their run-down one-bedroom apartment isn't quite a dream come true. As their neighbourhood of Pleasant Grove, Dallas sees a surge of violence fueled by epidemic drug use and increasing racial tensions, the business begins to fail and danger looms immediately outside the family's front door.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

penny candy has been praised as "a powerhouse—humorous, harrowing, and explosive" by Dan O’Brien, who highlights its compassionate and immediate portrayal of real-life struggles. Kevin Moriarty commends its "razor-sharp dialogue, thrilling plot twists, and complex characters". Vicki Meek applauds Jonathan Norton as a masterful storyteller who blends comedy and tragedy to create an authentic and emotionally gripping narrative.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781646051052

Publisher: Deep Vellum Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 20 January 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Deep Vellum Publishing

Illustration: Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 203.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 112

About the Author

Jonathan is the Playwright in Residence at the Dallas Theater Center. His work has been produced or developed by Actors Theatre of Louisville/Humana Festival, Dallas Theater Center, PlayPenn, InterAct Theatre Company, Pyramid Theatre Company, Black and Latino Playwrights Conference, Bishop Arts Theatre Center, African American Repertory Theatre, Soul Rep Theatre, Kitchen Dog Theater, Undermain Theatre, South Dallas Cultural Center, the National Performance Network, and the National New Play Network.

Jonathan's play Mississippi Goddamn was a Finalist for the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award and won the 2016 M. Elizabeth Osborn Award given by the American Theatre Critics Association.

Other awards include: Artistic Innovations Grant from the Mid-America Arts Alliance, SDCC Diaspora Performing Arts Commission, the TACA Family New Works Fund and the TACA Bowdon Family Foundation Artist Residency Fund, and Jubilee Theatre's 2019 Eastman Visionary Award.

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