Tillit, L.B. Unchained.

Tillit, L.B.  Unchained.  Saddleback, 2012.  197p.    $8.95 ISB 978-1-61651-7-922 ms/hs  VG-BN Realistic Fiction

     TJ is being torn back and forth, between druggie parents, loving foster care, a rehabilitated mom, a drug gang, and the person he really wants to be.  It is realistic urban street literature, but well written, and it shows hope for the future.  TJ grew up with drug-addicted parents.  He mostly raised himself.  As a teen he is brought into a drug gang as a delivery boy.  When his father dies, TJ is placed in a foster home.  He resists at first, but discovers what it feels like to be loved, well taken care of, and valued for the first time in his life.  After two years he is making real progress at maturing.
     Then one day he is ripped from this loving home to live with his mother, who has cleaned up her act.  TJ does not want to go back.  While his mother is off drugs, she really has not learned how to parent.  TJ is dragged back into the gang and is working his way up the ranks when a rival gang raids the gang house, killing the leader and most of the members. TJ finds he has a choice.  He can take over the leadership or escape from this life.  With his mom’s approval he goes back to the loving foster family where he feels he is going back home.
     This title is well written.  It is street smart but still literate.  The plot moves at a varying pace, just the way life moves.  The situations are realistic, but TJ comes to see that he does have choices about what he will make of himself.

Joan Theal

 

Stone Voice Rising

Tocci, C. Lee. Stone Voice Rising .
Harcourt Brace 2009 407p 17.00 978-0-15-206292-7 ms/hs
Lilibit knows she can hear stones whisper. She and six unwanted children travel toward Kiva to fulfill their destiny to the Stone. Constantly attacked by Evil and helped by unexpected allies, they journey on. Lilibit who can hear stones whisper is to be taken to Kiva to fulfill her destiny. The journey is redirected by Syxx, the embodiment of Evil. She amazingly survives all medically and surgically invasive attempts to find the source of her powers. Six other unwanted children from a foster home join forces with Lilibit to resume her journey to Kiva. Along the way they are helped by surprising allies and constantly pursued and attacked by the forces under the control of Syxx. The characters of Lilibit, Todd and Syxx are the most fully developed. The other children and characters they meet as they journey are sufficiently fleshed out to both aid understanding and enjoyment of the story. There is action in the escapes from the clutches of Syxx and his minions, and touching moments as the children come to depend on each other. It sounds like a sequel is likely to continue the story as the children learn and grow into their powers and abilities.
Theal, Joan

Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen.

Huser, Glen. Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen.
Groundwood, 2006. 192p 0-88899-732-9

“Fifteen-year-old Tamara is being bumped between foster homes, but now that she is aging out of the foster care system, she has devised a plan that will ensure her wealth and freedom, but first she must get through her last community project, which may change her life forever.”
Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen by Glen Huser is the teenage version of Thelma and Louise. Fifteen-year-old Tamara is being tossed around from foster home to foster home, because of her flamboyant disposition. She knows her future is on the line. All she ever wanted to do is be a model and become rich and famous. Her plans unfold when she meets elderly Miss Jane Barclay at the nursing home while her class is working on community projects. Miss Barclay is as unique as Tamara, smoking her cigars and sneaking drinks when available. Miss Barclay has one desire, to attend the opera one last time, while Tamara desires to attend a modeling school. The two set off on an adventure of a lifetime, being beneficial to both of their ambitions, since Miss Barclay is willing to pay for Tamara’s class and Tamara in return is willing to drive Miss Barclay to Seattle for the operas. Hoping for the best, they got the worst. The two ladies learn about each other and themselves. What they wanted and desired was respect and freedom.
The book is a fast and enjoyable read, predominately for females. Middle and high school level readers will like this book and will think of their elderly relatives. CFM
Realistic fiction