FICTION

Living Rough

by Christy WATSON
107p. (Orca Currents Series). Orca. 2011. PLB $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55469-888-2; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55469-434-1. LC number unavailable.
COPY ISBN
Gr 6–10—Poe has managed to keep his secret all year, but then he loses his cool in a classroom discussion about homelessness. He has been living in a tent ever since his dad left his job to take care of his mom when she was dying of cancer. When a storm hits, destroying their tent and injuring his father, Poe finds himself having to come clean about his living situation. He is interviewed on a local news station and soon learns that he's surrounded by people who want to help him. Although the story ties up a little too neatly and drags at times, overall it is a fast read that delivers an important message about the complexities of homelessness.—Rachael Myers-Ricker, Horace Mann School, Bronx, NY
Edgar (a.k.a. Poe) and his father are homeless. A new housing development and a new female student complicate his life even more. Then an encounter with bullies, followed by a class discussion on homelessness, force him to reveal his fears. Though stock characters and a predictable outcome lessen the impact of the narrative, the story's themes are thought-provoking.
Reviewed by Rachael Myers-Ricker , Mar 01, 2012

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