Girlchild / Tupelo Hassman / 271 pages

An adult fiction book, it is a train wreck that you can't turn away from.  It is a long slice of life from Rory Hendrix who lives in a trailer park in Reno, Nevada with her alcoholic mother.  She is third generation dysfunctional, but is actually succeeding quite well in school despite pre-conceived expectations.  The story contains the social worker notes on the mother and are used  to underscore how little the impact has been on the family.  People of the Calle simply try to avoid the government workers.  Rory and her family are no exception.  Sexual abuse is, of course, in this book as well as neglect, unsafe living conditions, and anything that is due to lack of money.  It is a grim picture.  I'm sure that is repeated many places across the country.  The reader is left with the hope that Rory will make it.  I hope so.
      It's a really good book and could really start some discussions about this country.  It is going to be released in China.  Hmm.  That will give a good impression of the U.S.A. the land of Opportunity.