Published February 2012 Walker Books
From the publisher:
Luke spends his days hanging out at the beach, working shifts at the local supermarket, and trying to stay out of trouble at school. His mate Bongo gets wasted, blocking out memories of the little brother social services took away and avoiding the stepdad who hits him. And Casey, the girl they both love, dreams of getting away and starting a new life in a place where she can be free. A powerful and authentic look at teen life from talented new author Emma Cameron.
This is a verse novel that looks at three characters all heading into their last years of high school and decisions that they make about what they want to do with their lives.
People either love of hate verse novels. I love them. To me a verse novel tells the heart of the story. No periphery story lines, no wasted words, just the story.
There is Luke, average student, nice family, hard worker. He comes across as the most stable of the three. He is going to leave school early and get a scholarship in the city.
Casey, who Luke quietly loves, lives under the weight of a father who controls every aspect of her life.
And Bongo, whose mother is a junkie, whose step dad beats him, and whose brother was taken away by social services.
Bongo is the first to leave town, and ends up on the streets for a while, until he gets an amazing opportunity that changes his life.
Casey has secret jobs, and she saves her money to also leave town, and escape her father's control. She finds work and has a good place to live. She meets a man, and her life changes in ways she couldn't imagine.
The stories start together, all entwined, and then each character goes their separate ways, only to meet up again at the end of the book.
Who will like this
book: Girls and boys age 15+
Read it if you like: Steve Herrick
Read it if you like: Steve Herrick
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