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• Beautifully done

  There are so many remarkable and beautiful things about this book I’m not sure where to start. The story opens with ten year old Della telling us about the brand new tattoo she just got — an ampersand. It is extraordinarily meaningful, which is why her foster mother, Francine, let her do it. Della tells us right up front that some of her story she has to share is hard. From page one I was swept into an amazing journey that I knew would be tough, but that surprised me with so much that is triumphant. Let me say right away this book is hard in the same way life is hard. It is also lovely in the same way life is lovely. It is well balanced and left me with very positive feelings. It is not schmaltzy. Ever. There will be people who want to keep this book out of the hands of the very readers who need it the most. This would be a travesty not only to children, but to humanity. This is an important book. It is time. The author weaves this story in a way that doesn’t flinch from the truth, yet it is done so gracefully that the light the reader follows is bright and full of hope. The child characters view their world through a clear and practical lens, and as is true in life, they often see things with more depth and clarity than the adults around them. Della and her sister Suki are tied to each other with a metaphorical rope that often burns, yet always binds them to each other. In the beginning of the story it is clear their emotional growth has been stunted by the life they have just escaped. They are in constant survival mode and believe it is always a mistake to trust the adults in charge. They bounce off each other, protect each other, suffer for each other, and constantly encourage each other. Suki, who has cared for Della since she herself was six years old, keeps her sister focussed on the future when Suki will be old enough to get a job and an apartment. When it will be just the two of them. No foster parents, no fake stepparents, no case workers, no friends who tell their secrets — just the two of them. The girls love each other and stand tall and strong against the world when united. But it isn’t until they are temporarily separated that they both begin to grow as individuals and to accept that what happened to them is not their fault. This is a message that can never be conveyed strongly enough to children and it is handled well in this story, by the characters coming to this realization organically. The adult character’s are also well done with individual personalities that do not take over the story. They are flawed, as we all are, which helps the reader never feel preached-to. Again, no schmaltz, but as an adult who has been impacted by this issue, I really appreciated the care in which the author developed the adults in the room. Francine, the new foster mom, is perfectly imperfect. She is not the stereotypical sugary foster-mom (nor the evil stepmother-type). At first I was curious about what I perceived to be her lack of warmth toward the girls. She is very cautious about alluding to anything that might give them unrealistic expectations. She also does not challenge the bond between them. Rather, she lets them peel the onion that is “them” one papery-thin layer at a time, giving the girls space to come to their own conclusions while providing a safe, predictable home for them to heal. As it should be. There is a tormenting boy character named Trevor who clearly has issues going on in his life that make him act out inappropriately to the girls in the class at school. But when Della realizes she has the power — and the right — to tell people they are not allowed to touch her without permission, she communicates this clearly and confidently to Trevor. This moment made me literally fly up from my chair and cheer. Della reveals her story layer by layer and prepares the reader when things are about to get ugly. The author has done a brilliant job of only using words that matter, so when the truth of what happened is exposed, it is done in a sparse but honest way, which allows for the surrounding beauty to hold us up. When I got to the last twenty or so pages, I put the book aside for a day because I didn’t want it to end. When I did finish, I felt both more hopeful and more powerful. This is an important topic that needs to be discussed openly and I am grateful to the author for leading the way with this hard-to-put-down book. There is much to be said and the conversation should start right now. Here, I’ll go first: &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

• An amazing, powerful and uplifting book

  This could so easily have been a tale of relentless misery because the main character, Della, has had a terrible life. However, her strength, her love for her sister and her recognition of the little bits of kindness that occasionally get shown to her, enable her to fight back against the trauma and the bullies. So believable and readable.

• Fantastic story!!

  One of the best books I’ve read in a long time!

• 100%

  Amazing book for teenagers! My daughter is 11 and she loves it!

• Beautiful and Poignant book!

  What can I say about this book? I can say that it’s beautifully written. I can say that Kimberly wrote from Della’s little 10 year old heart so delicately and authentically that I was right in the action with her. I can say that Kimberly wrote a book about two little girls who started as victims but are on their way to being heroes! Francine is a foster mother that all foster kids need. Every character in this book was genuinely written and well placed! Little Neveah was such a great little friend that her actions and words brought tears to my eyes. Teachers need to read this book so that they don’t end up being a Ms. Davonte. I know being a teacher is hard work, but so much responsibility comes with the role. It’s too important to drop the ball. At any rate, as a middle school librarian, I want kids at my school to read this very powerful and timely book. The subject matter is tough but necessary. Bahni Turpin’s narration took this already brilliant book into the stratosphere! She’s such a talent. I’ll be recommending this one when the new school year begins, for sure. I’m so glad that I got to spend a portion of my summer with this awesome book.

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