Customer Reviews

Haven

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Something always happens during Christmas that lasts in your mind forever. It could be that you received nothing on your Christmas list and wondered what in the world is wrong with Santa. Maybe you did receive everything on the list, and yet you still felt something missing.

For Rudy Morris and Latonya Dennison, what they would remember the most about this Christmas is simply meeting each other.

Every year, the Morris family would invite a child from The Haven, the place full of kids waiting to be put in a foster home, over for Christmas. This time, it just happens to be Latonya. What did they each wish for? Rudy wanted an ATV and Latonya just wanted a home. Unfortunately, neither received what they wanted. Instead, an unexpected adventure and friendship was formed.

Latonya has had trouble being selected for a foster home numerous times, as the requests have always been denied, with race being an unfortunate factor. Since the ones in charge are not willing to help Latonya, she must take matters into her own hands, with the help of Rudy and his friend Stark, of course.

With what was supposed to be just a normal holiday season for Rudy, it quickly turns into a roller coaster ride that includes fixing up an ATV, a plot to run away, and confronting emotions that all are too scared to approach.

Not wanting to give too much away, HAVEN is a riveting novel full of twists and action with the added passion to pull on any heartstrings. Beverly Patt creates a cast of characters that anyone who reads HAVEN will be able to relate to. Do NOT pass up HAVEN, as it is one novel that will leave a lasting impression. With this story, readers will quickly discover that their own family means so much more than they would ever admit or even believe.

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

Haven is a great read, whether you are young or grown up, boy or girl. There's longing in it (for adventure and an ATV) there's humor and a great boy friendship. There's a budding boy-girl friendship that rings totally-true. There's a glimpse of what life is like when you don't have a family, and what it can be like when you DO have a family, but somehow, things are never quite right at home.

The ending is so VERY satisfying... and I can't tell anything about it, or I'll spoil multiple surprises.

This is the story of Rudy, who lives close to Haven, a home for displaced kids. Every Christmas his family invites one of these kids to their house for the day so they can have a nice "at home" Christmas experience. This year is no different... except that it is, because this year he meets Latonya.

She asks him some hard questions like "Why didn't you get the ATV that you wanted for Christmas?" This makes him think, yet again, about his dad, and why does he act so weird around him. Then he gets kinda mad, and then he ends up in trouble, right on Christmas Day!

Later, he gets a phone call from Latonya and she has a deal to make with him. And thus begins the adventure that is this book.

I loved what this book said about the relationship between fathers and sons, and between friends. And what does it mean to be truly loyal to your friend? I totally fell in love with Rudy, and his friend Stark too. I felt completely connected to them. Though I loved her too, I could have gotten to know Latonya a bit better I think.

Anyway, it's a wonderful, heart warming book. One that makes a statement without getting too preachy. It had me in tears at the end, something I totally didn't see coming.

This is a great read for both boys and girls, with lots of action and some great plot twists at the end. The characters are likeable and believable, and the farther I got into the story, the more I found myself rooting for Latonya to find a permanent home, and for Rudy to get his ATV. Stark was just plain fun to spend time with. I especially liked the underlying message of the book - that a loving family is much more important and valuable than any material possession. I think it's a good one for kids to hear.