What We Keep Is Not Always What Will Stay

April 25, 2011
Adult author Cockrell's YA debut is a touching story about a girl forced to confront her lack of control over her world. Fifteen-year-old Angie lives with her stepfather, Ben, refusing to move out when her mother leaves after a fight. She confesses her fears and concerns to a statue of St. Felix hidden in her church's basement, only to find that a kindly homeless veteran has been living there and has overheard her problems. Meanwhile, at school she is in a class with Jesse, a 19-year-old dropout who is re-entering school after losing a leg in Afghanistan. She is quickly attracted to him, even as his own problems become evident. Torn between her ongoing family issues and her concern over Jesse, Angie must deal with the harsh truth that there might not be anything she can do to help those she loves. Angie is a strong and witty narrator, and Cockrell leaves readers with plenty of food for thought as she navigates
issues of homelessness, prejudice, post-traumatic stress disorder, and faith. Ages 12âup.

May 15, 2011

Tenth-grader Angie discovers that the world is a vastly complicated place.

First, the statue of St. Felix in the church basement she's been in the habit of confiding in seems to come to life. Her parents are at odds over her scriptwriter father's decision to use one of her mother's painful memories in his current project. And an Afghan War vet returns to her high school to get his diploma at age 19, minus a foot—or, maybe, that's plus a mechanical limb. Ex-soldier Jesse seems lost and friendless, which appeals to Angie and her best friend Lily's impulse to do good. Not fully aware of the impact his wartime experiences might have on him, Angie gradually finds herself in an uncomfortable relationship with this older boy. While the adults in her life urge caution, Angie is certain that Jesse is suffering from a disease, albeit a psychological one. She has to decide what she can and cannot do to help him. Also needing help is Felix, possibly a saint or maybe homeless. While the story is written with a light hand—particularly humorous scenes around a Las Posadas parade and a certain boy who is interested in what's under her shirt—the plot takes an unexpectedly serious turn that readers may not be prepared for.

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