Eleven-year-old Brittany knows there has to be a better world out there. Lately, though, it sure doesn't feel like it. She and her best friend, Marisol, stick together at school, but at home her mother's boyfriend is physically abusive, her granny is sick, her cat is missing, there's never any money, and there's her little brother, Tommy, to worry about.
Brittany has a hard time picturing her future as anything but a plain white sky. If her life is going to ever change, she needs a plan. And once she starts believing in herself, Brittany realizes that what has always seemed out of reach might be just around the corner. This thoughtful and ultimately hopeful debut novel tells the story of one girl who decides to strive for a brighter future — and the makeshift family that forms around her to help make it happen.
"Blejwas sets her moving account of Brittany’s search for a better life in the depressing weather of late fall and early winter. Her first-person narrative doesn’t dwell on the abuse [Brittany experiences] but on the details of living in poverty, such as taking the bus across town to get the makings of Thanksgiving dinner from a church food pantry. It’s cold in their apartment; people get sick; her great-grandmother dies. A bright (and warm) spot is school, where Mr. McInnis, an eager first-year teacher, pushes his mostly uncaring students and encourages them to imagine their futures....Sadly, some readers may know Brittany’s world well, others will find it surprising; all will appreciate the way Brittany’s actions propel the resolution." -- Kirkus Reviews
Recommended Age | 10 - 13 |
---|---|
Author | Emily Blejwas |
ISBN | 1524700975 |
Publication Date | Sep 19, 2017 |
Publisher | Delacorte Books for Young Readers |
Language | English |