A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler

A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Using a Greek Chorus to ask and raise questions, this was a story of what a good neighborhood and what it became when a new family moved in. Valerie has raised her biracial son in Oak Knoll, she knows everyone, is a professor, hold book clubs and has set opinions about ecology. When the Whitman's an upwardly mobile family moves in next door, trouble begins when Brad Whitman assumes Xavier is hired help, both parents keep a tight lock on their daughter, Juniper with a purity pledge and many restrictions. It really gets problematic when Xavier and Juniper become romantically involved and Valerie sues Brad Whitman over his destruction of an old oak tree. Delving into many themes and issues such as class, race, environmental concerns, love, lies, secrecy, consequences, family dysfunction and lawsuits this character driven book is heartbreakingly real. A must read!

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The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this jarring nonfiction book for #2jennsbookclub twitter chat to be held Thursday 2/8 at 8PM EST, this was a riveting read and I am sure the chat will be, too! Dashka Slater, the author, covered this story first in the NYTimes and this compassionate, achingly real story of 2 teens, a crime, on a bus in Oakland, CA. I learned so much about the juvenile court system from this book, the power of forgiveness, how choices can radically change lives, and how teens are many times misunderstood and need adults (lawyers, police, parents, school officials, court personnel) to really understand their choices, and how very important empathy is in every day life and could mean the difference in an incarcerated youth's life. I think everyone needs to read this book; teens, adults, school employees, lawyers, judges will all be impacted by Sasha and Richard's story. You can help but be torn apart with their story. If Sasha and their parents (Sasha identifies as agender) and Richard and his mom, were different - Richard's life could have been even more harsh (adult vs juvenile). Not many people could be burned as Sasha was and together with their parents, forgive and hold no animosity. Likewise Richard's mom knew what her son did was horrendous, stupid and unforgivable but she knew he was a 16 year old who did not always understand the impact of what he did (being in a juvenile detention at age 14) but she visited him every week, and became his supporter while apologizing and supporting Sasha's family. Highly recommended!!!

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