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| What We Keep Is Not Always What Will Stay |
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The Boston Globe named What We Keep is not Always What Will Stay a 2011 Best Book for Children The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books named What We Keep is not Always What Will Stay to their 2011 Blue Ribbons list Angie never used to think much about God-until things started getting strange. Like the statue of St. Felix, her secret confidant, suddenly coming off his pedestal and talking to her. And Jesse Francis, sent home from Afghanistan at age nineteen with his leg blown off. Now he's expected to finish high school and fit right back in. Is God even paying attention to this? Against the advice of St. Felix (who knows a thing or two about war), Angie falls for Jesse-who's a lot deeper than most high school guys. But Jesse is battling some major demons. As his behavior starts to become unpredictable, and even dangerous, Angie finds herself losing control of the situation. And she's starting to wonder . . . can one person ever make things right for someone else? Praise: "An utterly engaging narrative with a witty and thoughtful protagonist." -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review "Cockrell balances on the knife's edge between comedy and tragedy. The depth and darkness of her themes makes an absorbing read for older young adults." -The Boston Globe "I loved this story with its deft use of magical realism, its wonderfully quirky yet believable characters, and its honest portrayal of relationships, good and bad."-Han Nolan, National Book Award-winning author of Dancing on the Edge
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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 12-up. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Excerpted from What We Keep Is Not Always What Will Stay by Amanda Cockrell All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
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