Desert Angel

Desert Angel by Charlie Price. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011.

Angel’s drug addict mother and her newest boyfriend Scotty get in a screaming fight one night, so Angel decides to sleep outside. In the morning, there is blood everywhere and Angel’s mother and Scotty are missing. Within a short time, Angel finds a shallow grave with her mother body and she knows she must get away before Scotty returns. He’s a vicious, evil man and she is a loose end.

Escaping from Scotty is going to be difficult. He knows a lot about hunting, tracking and survival from his illegal poaching trips. Angel returns to the trailer to get some water and look for weapons. She is shocked by the sudden appearance of Scotty behind her. She is able to trick him into believing she is dead and then she runs for her life.

Angel has no family, no neighbors, no friends, nothing. She has nowhere to go and past experience has taught her she can only rely on herself. Unexpected help gives Angel some hope, but Scotty brutally eliminates everyone. Angel will never be safe as long as Scotty is chasing her. So she decides to become the hunter. 

This action-filled book is a combination of realistic, adventure and survival fiction.  It is recommended for grades 8 and up.

Brooklyn Burning

Brooklyn Burning by Steven Brezenoff. Published by Learner Publishing Group, 2011

Kid’s life is complicated. He is not getting along with his father at all. He questions many things in his life and is making unsafe choices for himself. When he becomes friendly with a bar owner named Fish, she tries to help him. This is where he meets Felix, a musician Kid likes a lot. Unfortunately, Felix is an addict and not a good influence.

After Kid and his father get into another huge argument, Kid is homeless so Felix takes him to an abandoned warehouse . When Felix dies, Kid sinks into a deep depression and he doesn’t deny the accusations that he started a fire in the warehouse. This has profound ramifications for Kid.

One day, he meets a young woman named Scout and discovers someone who loves music as much as he does. She has am amazing voice and Kid loves going to the basement of Fish’s bar to practice with her. She is mysterious and evasive, which only serves to increase Kid’s longing.

But the police are still coming after Kid, Fish can't help him anymore and he is worried about Scout.

This realistic fiction is recommended for students who like edgier stories.  

Visit author Steven Brezenoff's website