Review: The Last Chance Texaco

Life is tough enough at 15, but Lucy Pitt has spent over half of her life in the foster care system as an orphan. Her wicked temper has gotten her moved from one foster home to another, and now all that stands between her and Eat-Their-Young Island is the Last Chance Texaco. Kindle Home was once a stately manse, but now, as a group home, it's as beaten by life as the kids inside.

As always, it doesn't take long before Lucy is in trouble at her new school, and she is sentenced to 8 weeks of detention, along with the school jock who pushed her buttons. It's not long before they are friends, despite their differences. In fact, they are both surprised at the friendship; it breaks down their "them versus us" stereotyped opinions. Lucy gradually learns about trust in a relationship.

She is surprised by the compassion shown by the four adults who run the group home, also. The atmosphere is different from other homes she's been in, and they seem to really like the kids. Not that the kids are perfect-if they didn't have problems, they wouldn't be one step from Eat-Their-Young Island, would they?

It's not long before Lucy decides that she wants to stay here; she is more at home than she has ever felt. But this security is jeopardized - first by budget cuts that may close down Kindle Home, and then by an arsonist in the area, which is blamed on the group home. Although she can't do much about the budget, Lucy decides that even if it means breaking house rules, she must help find the arsonist.

One thing I noticed is that even though it is written in first person, when we first meet Lucy, she doesn't allow the reader much personal access, which would make sense for a child raised in the foster system. She even explains that it is risky to show emotion as it is equated with weakness.

But as Lucy opens up to the people around her, she becomes more accessible to the reader. Brent Hartinger has written a compassionate story about a young girl in stuck in a system that she has little control over, yet has learned to cope with that system to the best of her ability. It takes a lot of courage to be a kid in foster care, and Lucy shows us that courage in abundance.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Kat - RAM - Wisconsin

Book Review: The Last Chance Texaco