America

America by E. R. Frank is the sad but realistic story of a boy who fell through the cracks.

America was born to a drug addict. He was adopted by a family, but when they didn't want him, went to live with the housekeeper Mrs. Harper. America was happy with Mrs. Harper, but then his mother set up a visit to her apartment in NYC. A one-day visit turned into two years - with no mother, just living with his two half-brothers, stealing food to survive.

Once the system found America again, due to an arrest, he was sent back to Mrs. Harper. But his experiences had changed him. He no thought of himself as bad. After years back with Mrs. Harper, America is doing better, almost up to grade level in school after missing the two years in NYC. But then circumstances change again and the home he thought was safe isn't so safe anymore. America runs away rather than stay. Will his life ever be safe or carefree?

Told in flashbacks from America's current place in a group home, this is a powerful and haunting story of life in the system - foster, criminal, etc... - and one boy who might just get out of it sane, if he tries hard enough. Though not a fun book to read, America is a moving story.

Frank, E.R. (2002). America. New York: Simon Pulse.