Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Bandgt;This little thing with the perfect face and hands doing nothing but counting on me. And me wanting nothing else but to run crying into my own mom's room and have her do the whole thing.andlt;BRandgt; It's not going to happen....andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; Bobby is your classic urban teenaged boy -- impulsive, eager, restless. On his sixteenth birthday he gets some news from his girlfriend, Nia, that changes his life forever. She's pregnant. Bobby's going to be a father. Suddenly things like school and house parties and hanging with friends no longer seem important as they're replaced by visits to Nia's obstetrician and a social worker who says that the only way for Nia and Bobby to lead a normal life is to put their baby up for adoption. andlt;BRandgt; With powerful language and keen insight, Johnson looks at the male side of teen pregnancy as she delves into one young man's struggle to figure out what "the right thing" is and then to do it. No matter what the cost.
Review
U.S. News and World Report Johnson has carved a niche writing realistically about young people's issues.
Review
SLJ, starred review Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting.
Review
Publishers Weekly, starred review Readers will only clamor for more.
Review
Booklist, starred review Poetry.
Review
"Vigilante's finely tuned depiction of Lionel's neighborhood and of his jumbled feelings...is both believable and engaging...a great selection for middle school readers, who will empathize with Lionel throughout."--The Horn Book
Review
"Vigilante writes about tough subjects with an engaging clarity and a tender touch."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)
Review
"Touchy topics...are tackled frankly and with tremendous insight. Many aspects of this book are especially welcome for middle-grade fiction, including the authentic urban setting...and a cast of multidimensional Latino characters."--Booklist
Review
"Vibrant setting and three-dimensional cast...appealing tale of urban friendship."--
Kirkus Review
"This book excels in the portrayal of genuine, warm relationships between young people and important adults in their lives ... A complex realistic fiction novel featuring Latino characters for the middle grades; we could really do with more like it."--LMC
Synopsis
Bobby is your typical urban teenager: impulsive, eager, restless. Only now he is going to be a father, too.
Synopsis
This little thing with the perfect face and hands doing nothing but counting on me. And me wanting nothing else but to run crying into my own mom's room and have her do the whole thing. It's not going to happen....
Bobby is your classic urban teenaged boy -- impulsive, eager, restless. On his sixteenth birthday he gets some news from his girlfriend, Nia, that changes his life forever. She's pregnant. Bobby's going to be a father. Suddenly things like school and house parties and hanging with friends no longer seem important as they're replaced by visits to Nia's obstetrician and a social worker who says that the only way for Nia and Bobby to lead a normal life is to put their baby up for adoption.
With powerful language and keen insight, Johnson looks at the male side of teen pregnancy as she delves into one young man's struggle to figure out what "the right thing" is and then to do it. No matter what the cost.
Synopsis
Lionel and Anisa are the best of friends and have seen each other through some pretty tough times--Anisa's dad died and Lionel's dad left, which is like a death for Lionel. They stick together no matter what. So when Lionel suggests a detour through a local construction site on their way home, Anisa doesn't say no.
And that's where Lionel and Anisa make a startling discovery--a baby abandoned in a port-o-potty. Anisa and Lionel spring into action. And in saving Baby Doe, they end up saving so much more.
Danette Vigilante crafts an accessible, heartfelt and much needed story for the middle grade market featuring Latino characters.
About the Author
Angela Johnson has won three Coretta Scott King Awards, one each for her novels andlt;iandgt;The First Part Lastandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Heavenandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;Toning the Sweepandlt;/iandgt;. andlt;iandgt;The First Part Lastandlt;/iandgt; was also the recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award. She is also the author of the novels andlt;iandgt;Looking for Redandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;A Certain Octoberandlt;/iandgt;. Her books for younger readers include the Coretta Scott King Honor Book andlt;iandgt;When I Am Old with Youandlt;/iandgt;, illustrated by David Soman; andlt;iandgt;Wind Flyersandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;I Dream of Trainsandlt;/iandgt;, both illustrated by Loren Long; and andlt;iandgt;Lottie Paris Lives Here andlt;/iandgt;and its sequel andlt;iandgt;Lottie Paris and the Best Placeandlt;/iandgt;, both illustrated by Scott M. Fischer. Additional picture books includeandnbsp;andlt;iandgt;A Sweet Smell of Rosesandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Just Like Josh Gibsonandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;The Day Ray Got Awayandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;All Different Nowandlt;/iandgt;. In recognition of her outstanding talent, Angela was named a 2003 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Kent, Ohio. Visit her at AJohnsonAuthor.com.