An Inmate's Daughter
Grade 5-8–After her father is incarcerated for murder, 13-year-old Jenna, her younger brother, and her mother move in with relatives. All of these people, including Dad, are trying to do the best they can, but society and the stigma attached to the situation cause problems. The novel opens with the family taking a trip to the prison and Jenna, on automatic pilot from years of taking care of her brother, rescues a child who falls from the ferry into the water. As Jenna gets used to her new schoolmates and tries to make friends, she is constantly fearful of anyone learning the truth about her father. However, as the Department of Corrections investigates the accident, the subsequent publicity threatens her new relationships. Most of the adults are bland, and the writing is run of the mill. Still, given the fact that prison inmates are estimated to be the parents of over a million and a half children, this title could be a useful conversation starter for those who are in this situation or know someone who is. Jenna is a stalwart heroine who learns along the way to trust her own truths with those who care about her.–Carol A. Edwards, Douglas County Libraries, Castle Rock, COCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.