Pain & Wastings (Orca Soundings) [Hardcover]

Carrie Mac (Author)

Book Description

Series: Orca Soundings | Publication Date: April 1, 2008

At fifteen, Ethan is on the fast track to nowhere. In and out of group homes and constantly in trouble, Ethan is fighting to find a sense of who he is. After breaking into an amusement park and being savaged by a police dog, he is befriended by a paramedic. Offered a choice of court or going on a ride-along in an ambulance, Ethan takes what he thinks is the easy way out. On Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Ethan comes face to face with the horrific truth from his past and must learn to deal with where he came from—and where he is going.

Editorial Reviews

Review

*no details* (Puget Sound Council 20080301)

"[A] captivating main character and excellently-paced plot. Highly Recommended." (CM Magazine 20080315)

"While a story of tough kids in a tough situation, this is also a story of hope and an unlikely friendship." (KLIATT 20080401)

*no details* (BC Bookworld 20080901)

*no details* (The Vancouver Sun 20081001)

"Any teens who are fans of gritty, realistic fiction will enjoy this short novel." (Resource Links 20080916)

*no details* (WASHYARG 20090501)

"Heavy topics of drug abuse, prostitution, and murder make this a gritty and gripping story." (The Horn Book Guide )

"The characters are believable and compelling. The plot moves at a fast pace. Moreover, the graphic descriptions of ambulance calls make this book an excellent suggestion for male reluctant readers." (South Western Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group )

*no details* (TeensReadToo.com ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

"First dead person, kid?"John says as he pulls the ambulance into traffic.
I decide not to answer him, because I don't want to get into it. I eye Holly, but she's not answering for me. How much does she know?

Product Details

• Hardcover: 122 pages
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551439069
• ISBN-13: 978-1551439068
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,748,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, May 22, 2009

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pain & Wastings (Orca Soundings) (Paperback)

Ethan Mingus Kirby was born to a mother whose life became filled with heroine, poverty, and prostitution. They lived in the ghetto neighborhood at Main and Hastings, nicknamed Pain and Wastings. At the tender age of six, Ethan witnessed his mother's brutal murder.

This short novel picks up after Ethan has spent years in numerous foster homes and developed a bitter attitude toward life in general. He has a run-in with the law and is given the choice of a five shift ride-along with the local paramedics or a stint in juvie.

Ethan chooses the paramedic adventure, never dreaming that he will be reliving that horrible time in his past when his mother died.

One of the high-interest, lower-reading level series by Orca Book Publishing, PAIN & WASTINGS is one young man's emotional journey into the past to deal with his demons. It is hoped that by doing so he can build a more successful future.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"