Customer Reviews

Begging for Change (Bccb Blue Ribbon Fiction Books (Awards))

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I debate with folks all the time about the route that BET is taking. Some say that BET is only selling sex, while I say they are only giving what's sent to them. Publishers are doing the same thing. When all they're getting is fiction writers who seem to love erotica more than a storyline, that's what's put out. But then there's the writers who stick to a good script to sell their story. Whether this book was for young adults or not, I believe the writer has a strong enough talent of telling a story so we don't have to read a porno book. In this book, I find myself grinning at the "love" scenes and I haven't done that in a very long time with fiction. Simple blushing, first kisses, and shyness with dancing are perfect fun and bring back old memories of my childhood.

I love scripts about black young people growing up and dealing with their maturing emotions. A young girl named Raspberry has a thieving crackhead as a father, a dreamer as a mother, and enough male role models to give her beliefs in the sanctity of love. Her friends/associates/enemies have their own set of baggage: dealing with being a bi-racial child, unemployment, and friendships being torn by mistrust.

I am just crazy about this author and this book. I didn't remember reading another one of her books "Skin I'm In" but when I saw it was on my recommendation website, I see why. I'm going to read every last one of the books this writer writes!

BEGGING FOR CHANGE is the highly anticipated sequel to Sharon G. Flake's Money Hungry. This book picks up the story of Raspberry Hill a girl who is obsessed with money, because of the security it brings her. Determined not to be homeless again, Raspberry is the budding entrepreneur, doing anything legal to obtain money. In this book, she finds that although money can bring about security, it cannot ensure happiness.

The book begins with Raspberry's mother being assaulted by a young girl because she is trying to keep peace in her neighborhood. Raspberry is distraught, feels threatened, and as a result she steals money from her best friend, Zora. This causes a rift between the girls. Raspberry also begins to develop feelings for Sato, a boy from her school. She is faced with the dilemma of being in love without losing her entrepreneurial spirit. The book also introduces Raspberry's father, a homeless, crack addict. Although Raspberry loves her father, she has difficulties in "liking" him, especially when he steals her hard-earned money. She also deals with an identity crisis, wondering if she has inherited any of her father's ways.

Sharon G. Flake has done it again. Her latest book ties up loose ends from Money Hungry, but introduces new problems and situations. The recurring theme of the identity crisis, shown through Raspberry and her biracial friend, Mai, is one that children who read this book will readily relate to. I highly recommend this book for fans of Flake, and for children who may have difficulties accepting themselves or their parents.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Raspberry is certain...something's got to change. Raspberry Hill is a teenager who is going through some hardships in her life. Her mother was taken to the hospital after being attacked by a wisecracking teenage neighbor. As a result, Raspberry goes to stay with her friend Zora and her dad, Dr. Mitchell. While staying there, Raspberry steals from Zora's purse, while at a restaurant. Once her mom is well again, Raspberry moves back with her mom, but her crack-headed father returns and steals her money. With this, Raspberry apologizes to Zora and understands what it is like to have something be taken without permission. I recommend this book to all teenagers and their friends.

For one, it includes real life situations. Like when her father steals her money out of her room. Also the book shows how many parents are struggling and trying to pay the bills. In addition it describes what it is like to live in Section 8 or not have a caring father. Begging for change does an excellent job making the reader get emotionally feelings for the characters in the book.

Next, you could relate to the characters and their actions. For example, I could sense Zora's anger after Raspberry steals from her. In addition, I could experience Raspberry's joy once her mother comes home from the hospital. Also, I felt Raspberry's rue after stealing from Zora. While reading this book, I could put myself in their positions and see what I would have done.

Begging for Change has a wonderful moral for all people to understand. For instance, no matter how jealous you are, you should never steal from your friends like Raspberry did. In addition, when you steal from someone, it has an impact on your whole family and friends. After Raspberry's family and friends found out that she had stolen from Zora, no one wanted to talk to her or be her friend. Last, the best choice that you can make is to come clean about the problem no matter how much trouble you get into. Once Raspberry told Zora the truth, they became the best of friends.

This book can teach you a lot in life. It was easy to read and comprehend what was going on. If you like to read books that you can relate to then you should read Begging for Change. Remember, it's not how you make a mistake, it is what you do after it takes place.

W. Claiborne

Raspberry Hill, who was once homeless vowed never to be on the streets again. She thought that money was everything. But when a neighbor attacks her mom and nearly kills her, she starts to steal from her best friend and from her other neighbors. After her best friend finds out, she loses a very dear friend. Raspberry, who loves money so much, doesn't admit what she has done. At the same time she is struggling between two hard relationships, her blossoming one with a Sato, a boy from school, and her drug addicted father, who steals from Raspberry, lies, and is living by himself on the streets. After stealing from her best friend and good neighbor, she can't help but think that she has inherited her father's lying and stealing ways.

I would recommend this book because I think it was fun to read and I enjoyed it very much. It was very captivating because of the way it captured the characters' moods.

I haven't read a juvenile fiction book in quite some time but the voice of the narrator is what made me want to read Begging for Change. It's the story of Raspberry, a young girl who is going through much adversity that involves her family and friends. I think Raspberry is a character that kids or grownups can understand. She is emotional - mad, happy, afraid, shy, indignant, jealous, and everything in between. She's not perfect, she's real and that's a wonderful attribute to find in fiction. If you enjoy reading about young people and want to understand how they think and where they are coming from in terms of friendships, family, loyalty, and justice, you might enjoy reading Begging for Change.

This is the story of a young girl whose father is a drug addict and her mother is trying to get ahead in life. Raspberry's mother is dating her best friend's father, a doctor. Raspberry's mother is brutally attacked and ends up in the hospital. While Raspberry is trying to deal with the incident, the area they live in and the fact that her father should have been there to protect them, she makes some bad decisions and steals some money. This threatens to tear her friendships apart and eats at her unmercifully. Unpleasant encounters with her father where he steals from her sets her on the path to thinking she has become like her. Raspberry has to go through a lot of thoughtful soul searching to set things right in her life. Excellent book. This is one that teens will definitely be able to relate to.

Sharon Flake did it again! All her books are so interesting! I couldn't put 'Begging for Change' down! I read it in 2 days. I hope she keeps on writing...

The book Begging for Change is a wonderful book based on the struggles of living on the streets. It talks about the heart ache, the pain , and the struggles that Raspberry Hill went through . Her dad left her when she was a little girl. When she finally became a teenager, her dad showed up at here door asking for help.

The author Sharon G. Flake is a very powerful writer. She has written many books like Money Hungry, The Skin I'm In, and Bang. Sharon G. Flake has won many awards like, Best Books for Young Adult Readers, Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, the New York Public Library, and Top Ten Books for the Teen Age.

The book Begging For Change is a good book for boys and girls and for all teenage and adult ages. It shows that even when there are times when you would want to leave and quit there is always a way out. This is a wonderful book that reflects on a life that we usually do not see. Hope you read it soon.

this book talked about the hardships of having little money. raspberry has it hard. her mother has been attacked, they are living in a run down home, and maricle is always there making things horrible for them. plus she stole money from one of her bestfriends and now she cant trust raspberry. and the thing is raspberry took it just to take it. through out the story you see raspberry pity her father,but want to help him. you also see her and sato's friendship turn into a relationship. he helps her when she truly needs it. raspberry learns in the end that trust is very important and when you break it its very hard to get it back. and she promises herself to never steal again. she might keep it or she might not but she still has her friends and family to help her.

I will give this book a 5 because it was a good book. It had a lot of details. My favorite charaters are Sato and Raspberry. I like when Raspberry and Sato got caught kissing. I didn't like the ending because it didn't show a lot of details. You should add more to the ending about Sato and Raspberry. I hope she makes a part 3.'''''