Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of this unforgettable story by Andrea Elliott - 5 stars.
Dasani Coates was born into a life of poverty, drug abuse and neglect, even with married parents with the best of intentions. As the almost-oldest, Dasani had to take on the role of parent to her 7 siblings from a very early age. The author, NY Times writer and Pulitzer Prize winner, entrenched herself into this family's life for over a decade and was witness to the homeless crisis and fear of child protection agencies endured by so many. When Dasani is finally accepted into a boarding school in PA, her life seems nothing but bright. But the transition to become what was expected of her by the school meant leaving herself and her family behind.
This is an eye-opening look into how quickly people can get into no-win situations with bureaucracies that are supposed to help them. While not dismissing parental responsibility, this book will make you look at those slippery slopes of homelessness for so many with long-reaching pasts of poverty. But there is also hope - Dasani has teachers, administrators, counselors who do their best to help her succeed. My family has visited Hershey Park in PA and seen the school on the hill - this is also a fascinating look into that amazing situation that has the potential to turn around lives.
This is a must-read book - don't miss it!
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