Elly is
twelve and too terrified to tell anyone that her step-brother rapes her
almost every night. After her peers mercilessly bully her and assault
her one day after school, she is rescued by a mysterious teen who
teaches her how to dumpster dive and sleep on pavement. Elly crosses
paths with similarly traumatized and presently homeless teens and
Blank’s narrative switches narrators each time a new chapter begins.
This gritty young adult novel, set in L.A., will be too much for some,
and all too familiar for others. Almost Home
can be viewed as a cautionary tale that ultimately conveys that leaving
danger does not always mean finding safety. School librarians will
want to be aware that this unblinking depiction of teen homelessness
includes sexual exploitation, rape, and drug abuse. Recommended for
independent reading for older teens. --Jessica Fenster-Sparber
Blank, Jessica. Almost Home. New York: Hyperion, 2007. Print.
Hyperion has published a discussion guide authored by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer which includes discussion questions, project ideas, and a short interview with the author. Access it here.
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