Synopses & Reviews
Fifteen-year-old Stevie Calhoun is taken from her home by her overprotective aunt, who's convinced Stevie's mom is on drugs. Under her aunt's watchful eye, Stevie gives up skipping school, eating fast food, and dressing provocatively. Sneaking away to party doesn't prove all that hard, but it brings her face to face with ugly situations, like the pressure to do drugs herself. Perhaps what saves Stevie is the injured robin she finds. Discovering this helpless creature leads her to volunteer at a bird rehabilitation center, where she meets troubled but charming Alan. As her interests take a new turn, Stevie finds the courage to see the truth about her mom and finally recognize that living with her aunt is safe and heartening--and just where she wants to be after all.
Filled with genuine characters, an authentic and fresh voice, and wonderful symbolism, Broken Wings is a contemporary novel that takes an honest look at the victims of addiction and their right to a second chance.
Review
"With just enough humor to diffuse the tension and the art and science of photography as a backdrop, this rich romance explores the complexities of friendship and love." Booklist
Review
"[T]he details are just intriguingly bizarre enough to hook teens of both sexes and keep them engrossed by the naïvely unsteady love triangle.
Review
"...[A]ppropriate but sensitive dialogue; beautifully developed, diverse characters; an unblinking pace; and intelligent humor. An exceptional novel. School Library Journal
Synopsis
Fifteen-year-old Blake has a girlfriend and a friend who's a girl. One of them loves him; the other one needs him.
When he snapped a picture of a street person for his photography homework, Blake never dreamed that the woman in the photo was his friend Marissa's long-lost meth addicted mom. Blake's participation in the ensuing drama opens up a world of trouble, both for him and for Marissa. He spends the next few months trying to reconcile the conflicting roles of Boyfriend and Friend. His experiences range from the comic (surviving his dad's birth control talk) to the tragic (a harrowing after-hours visit to the morgue).
In a tangle of life and death, love and loyalty, Blake will emerge with a more sharply defined snapshot of himself.
Synopsis
Winner of the 2010 William C. Morris Award
Fifteen-year-old Blake has a girlfriend and a friend who s a girl. One of them loves him; the other one needs him.
When he snapped a picture of a street person for his photography homework, Blake never dreamed that the woman in the photo was his friend Marissa s long-lost meth addicted mom. Blake s participation in the ensuing drama opens up a world of trouble, both for him and for Marissa. He spends the next few months trying to reconcile the conflicting roles of Boyfriend and Friend. His experiences range from the comic (surviving his dad s birth control talk) to the tragic (a harrowing after-hours visit to the morgue).
In a tangle of life and death, love and loyalty, Blake will emerge with a more sharply defined snapshot of himself.
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Synopsis
Stevie Calhoun is fifteen and knows how to take care of herself. Her mom has disappeared for days at a time before. So why is Aunt Mindy making such a big deal of it now?
Whatever.Stevie will pack up her gypsy skirts, midriffs, camouflage pants, and red high heels. Shell go with Aunt Mindy. But it doesnt mean shes going to stay. Mom will return and promise to never see Drake and his white powder again. Stevie will make sure of that. If Moms awake, shell be with her. If shes working at the club, Stevie will hang at home and count the hours. Who cares about school? Who cares about Alan and helping those stupid birds?
Crap.Does she?
With a powerful mix of humor and heartbreak, Flyawayis a contemporary novel that takes a frank, hopeful look at the victims of addiction and their right to a safe and heartening future.
Synopsis
Stevie Calhoun knows how to take care of herself. Its not like her mom hasnt disappeared before. So why is Aunt Mindy making such a big deal of it now? Its not like Moms really doing meth. Stevie makes sure of that. Whatever. Shell go home with Aunt Mindy if it will keep her from calling Child Protective Services—but it doesnt mean shell stay. Mom will come back. Mom always comes back. And Stevie will be there when she does. But when Stevie meets Alan—frustrating and fascinating and so-different-from-everyone-she-knows Alan—and she starts helping out at the bird rehab center, things begin to look different. Even the tutoring and the ridiculous outfits Aunt Mindys forcing her into might not be so bad. Not that Stevie would say it out loud. She cant. Because how can anything be good if it doesnt include Mom?
About the Author
L. K. Madigan lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, son, two big black dogs, hundreds of books, and a couple of vintage cars.