Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Book Review - Messed Up by Janet Nichols Lynch


R.D. is a a teacher's worst nightmare. He is repeating the eighth grade. On the very first day of school, he winds up in the principal's office, after trying to break up a fight between two girls in rival gangs. Of course, no one believes that R.D. was doing the RIGHT thing for once, and he is suspended. R.D. has had it rough, so it's easy to understand why he is having such a hard time in school. His mother had him when she was just a kid, and now she is serving out a sentence in a California prison. He lives with his grandmother and her boyfriend Earl. That is, until his grandma decides to dump old Earl and hops in the cab of her new boyfriend's truck, leaving R.D. behind. R.D. is happy to stay with Earl, but can't help feeling abandoned. And one afternoon, R.D. comes home to find Earl dead, and he must decided what to do. He knows that he will be sent to live in a foster home if anyone finds out he is home alone. He is terrified, and must make some very difficult decisions about his future.

R.D. is a wonderful character, full of humor and heart. He stumbles and struggles, and makes some poor choices, but through it all he remains true to himself. I hope this author continues to write more stories like this!

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