I wish my high school years were half as exciting as this book.As a parent, high school teacher and coach, I hope they still aren't.The dynamics between the characters were fascinating.The jealousies and loyalties are all too real.The main character, Erin, could be one of the many girls sitting in my class.Unfortunately, many of my real students face the same struggles, especially in choosing boys.
While I was hoping for Erin to make the right choice to stay away from that Dwane Begay...I think the real villains in this story are the PARENTS.
Speaking of parents, mine could rarely get me to read anything.I compared this book to 'The Outsiders' because I could not put it down. I ended up reading the entire series from SE Hinton.This book was the same in that regard.My wife finally made me put it down around 2AM.You might want to read it yourself to view the content as it contains mature material.It states that it was written at an age level of 9-12 years old...however if you allow your 9-12 year old to read it, you might be just as bad as the parents in the book.I would recommend it for high school and possibly middle school students.They will love it!
Product Description
Fifteen-year-old Erin Angelica Delessandri is a typical high school cheerleader except for one thing: in addition to the normal pressures of being a teenager, she is a child living in an alcoholic family.At home, she's the target of her father's alcoholic rage and is always on edge, never knowing when the yelling will start. Her father's harsh treatment also leads Erin to harbor the vague notion that she's 'irresponsible' and 'worthless'. At school Erin gets caught up in the party scene with a crew called 'The Pack'. She becomes romantically involved with an older Pack member named Dwane. After Dwane is accused of a gang-related murder, Erin's brother Joey, who is also a member of The Pack, forbids Erin from seeing Dwane. But the evidence suggests that it's Joey, not Dwane, who pulled the trigger.While the drama unfolds at school, Erin's family disintegrates before her eyes. Her mom, upset at the prospect of a failed marriage, becomes depressed and withdrawn. And Erin's little sisters share a secret-a killer secret that must be exposed and dealt with before someone dies.
About the Author
Nikki O'Neill has a BS in English education and a master's degree in social work, and has been an English teacher for fifteen years. She currently lives in Phoenix and works at an inner city school. O'Neill's other works include Poetry Made Easy (Didax R.I.C., 2000).
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