Leveen, Tom. SHACKLED

Leveen, Tom.  
SHACKLED
New York : Simon Pulse, 2015
IL YA
ISBN 1481422499
Pelly struggles with mood swings and anxiety. She has trouble being in public and has tried for years to overcome her issues.  They stem back to six years ago when she and her best friend were little.  They were playing a game of hide and seek in a department store. And Tara disappeared.  Pelly blames herself and has been trying to cope ever since.  She now works part time in a coffee shop and takes classes online.  When she thinks she sees Tara at the shop, her world starts spinning.  No one believes her that it was Tara.  After all, everyone assumes she died years ago.  As Pelly continues to investigate, she is joined by another employee of the coffee shop.  This girl really couldn't have been Tara, could it?



Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/h07vQ9VJgnqL0

Jones, Tayari. LEAVING ATLANTA

Jones, Tayari. 
LEAVING ATLANTA   
New York : Warner Books, 2002
IL YA
ISBN 0446528307

Three children growing up in Atlanta in 1979 find their world complicated by unimaginable events.  We meet LaTasha.  Social dynamics are changing and girls she thought were her friends are treating her badly.  When Jashante shows some interest in her, she is really torn about what is going on.  Then there is Rodney, too weird to have any friends. He is the brunt of jokes and is usually seen by himself reading.  The last part of the story is told by Octavia -- too black and too outspoken. She tries to be nice to other students but she still finds herself sitting alone in the lunchroom while kids call her names.  All the kids are also going through issues at home.  When the child murders begin, the kids' lives get even harder.

Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/uzQ2V2oVTus8b