2008 Woodie Awards
Novel Hits Close to 'Home'
First time author creates realistic story, stirring uncomfortable emotions.
Summer Rogers
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Entertainment
A nitty-gritty story that delves into the minds and journeys of forlorn homeless teens, "Almost Home," is a fantastically written story illustrating the ever-growing population of homeless teens.
The book begins with the na've character Eleanor narrating her story. She lives at home with her father, step-mother and sexually abusive step-brother. She lives in silent pain until one day when the popular girls attack her. They violently rip her clothes off in front of a school bus full of middle school kids.
Tracy, a straggly stranger in the shadow, rescues Eleanor from the torment and ultimately introduces her to the streets of Hollywood. Tracy renames Eleanor "Eeyore" and thus a bond is created between the two. However, one day Eeyore wakes up behind a green dumpster to discover Tracy is gone.
With the disappearance of Tracy in Eeyore's chapter, are the reappearance of Tracy and the introduction of Rusty. The next chapter is written from Rusty's point of view, and describes what he and Tracy are doing, essentially picking up where Eeyore left off in the story.
The book continues this way with four other characters named Squid, Scabius, Critter and Laura. The whole book basically ends where it begins with Tracy and her tale. The reader may think that a book written in this style, jumping from different characters narrations would make the story choppy and difficult to follow.
However, first time author Jessica Blank does an excellent job of keeping the story consistent and ultimately the story flows perfectly. It's a unique and refreshing perspective to write a story in this style. The reader can actually get a sense of what each character is seeing and feeling, rather than then the one-dimensional point of view of just one character. It is, in essence, a 360-degree story.
With the main characters being teens, one would think that the main audience would be teenagers. In fact, at first the book seems adolescent, but due to the content, some language and the situation of the homeless teens, it was certainly written with an adult audience in mind.
Blank's writing is good, it makes other writers seem superfluous. She creates an essence that the reader is actually experiencing everything the characters are.
This sensation creates a lot of uncomfortable feelings for the reader. Many scenes in the book are heart wrenching, embarrassing or nauseating. In Eeyore's chapter, where the popular kids rip her clothes off, the vivid descriptions are horrifying.
Blank makes the reader recall embarrassing moments from their own life and the reader feel as uncomfortable and vulnerable as the character herself.
Writing such as Blank's is an incredible rarity. Her work should be applauded and it can only be hoped that her future novels are written and executed as well as her debut.
The book begins with the na've character Eleanor narrating her story. She lives at home with her father, step-mother and sexually abusive step-brother. She lives in silent pain until one day when the popular girls attack her. They violently rip her clothes off in front of a school bus full of middle school kids.
Tracy, a straggly stranger in the shadow, rescues Eleanor from the torment and ultimately introduces her to the streets of Hollywood. Tracy renames Eleanor "Eeyore" and thus a bond is created between the two. However, one day Eeyore wakes up behind a green dumpster to discover Tracy is gone.
With the disappearance of Tracy in Eeyore's chapter, are the reappearance of Tracy and the introduction of Rusty. The next chapter is written from Rusty's point of view, and describes what he and Tracy are doing, essentially picking up where Eeyore left off in the story.
The book continues this way with four other characters named Squid, Scabius, Critter and Laura. The whole book basically ends where it begins with Tracy and her tale. The reader may think that a book written in this style, jumping from different characters narrations would make the story choppy and difficult to follow.
However, first time author Jessica Blank does an excellent job of keeping the story consistent and ultimately the story flows perfectly. It's a unique and refreshing perspective to write a story in this style. The reader can actually get a sense of what each character is seeing and feeling, rather than then the one-dimensional point of view of just one character. It is, in essence, a 360-degree story.
With the main characters being teens, one would think that the main audience would be teenagers. In fact, at first the book seems adolescent, but due to the content, some language and the situation of the homeless teens, it was certainly written with an adult audience in mind.
Blank's writing is good, it makes other writers seem superfluous. She creates an essence that the reader is actually experiencing everything the characters are.
This sensation creates a lot of uncomfortable feelings for the reader. Many scenes in the book are heart wrenching, embarrassing or nauseating. In Eeyore's chapter, where the popular kids rip her clothes off, the vivid descriptions are horrifying.
Blank makes the reader recall embarrassing moments from their own life and the reader feel as uncomfortable and vulnerable as the character herself.
Writing such as Blank's is an incredible rarity. Her work should be applauded and it can only be hoped that her future novels are written and executed as well as her debut.
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