Customer Reviews

Back (Orca Soundings)

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A young man just released from prison has a neighborhood upset and ready for revenge. Jojo has been nothing but trouble from an early age, and when he beat Eden Withrow within an inch of his life, he became the most unpopular guy around. Most folks don't think the two-year sentence he served was nearly long enough.

Ardell, Eden's younger brother, can't stand to see Jojo living back across the street. His brother has been in a coma since the attack and is not likely to recover. How can Jojo return to the neighborhood and pick up life where he left off? Ardell is determined to make him pay.

Jojo seems quite different now. He spends his time cooking and cleaning for his mother, and when his old girlfriend, Shana, shows up with his baby, he seems ready to accept responsibility. However, his crime is more than most people can forgive. Ardell and his gang convince shopkeepers to close their doors to Jojo, and they stake out his house and make not-so-subtle threats to his family's safety.

Can a criminal be rehabilitated? Can the victims forgive a senseless act of violence? These are the questions posed by author Norah McClintock in BACK.

Less than 100 pages, this book is surprising in the way it clearly paints a picture of an angry young man, his family, and the punk whose actions changed the course of their lives. The style of high-interest, lower reading level will certainly attract and captivate the reluctant YA reader.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"