It is 1949, and Cal is in his Senior year of high school in St. Paul. He is an athlete who likes hanging out with his friends pulling pranks and is in love with his best friend's girl. Cal's dad, changed by the War, is a street car driver who never goes to his games and rarely talks to his family. However, he learns that his life is not that bad when Gretch the Wretch, an odd girl at his school, confides in him that she is being physically and sexually abused by her father. She makes Cal promise not to tell anyone because she saw firsthand how the police don't protect victims. Her sister talked to the police, and because she had no evidence, her father went free. His subsequent abuse sent Gretchen's sister into an insane asylum. However, Gretchen doesn't know how much longer she can hang on, so Cal finds himself promising to help her get free. Their friendship and his promise to save her will dramatically transform Cal's life. Although this is a powerful historical fiction novel that will make you feel like you are living in the 1950's, it is so relevant to today's teens. Cal feels like a modern teen as he hangs out with friends and pursues the girl he loves, and it is rare to have a book set in that time period discuss sexual abuse. This is a story any teen would identify with as Cal is a likable narrator that you immediately feel sympathetic for. The cover of this book is awful, but what is inside will make even those most reluctant engaged. This is an undiscovered gem! Highly, highly recommended!
Until They Bring the Streetcars Back by Stanley Gordon West
It is 1949, and Cal is in his Senior year of high school in St. Paul. He is an athlete who likes hanging out with his friends pulling pranks and is in love with his best friend's girl. Cal's dad, changed by the War, is a street car driver who never goes to his games and rarely talks to his family. However, he learns that his life is not that bad when Gretch the Wretch, an odd girl at his school, confides in him that she is being physically and sexually abused by her father. She makes Cal promise not to tell anyone because she saw firsthand how the police don't protect victims. Her sister talked to the police, and because she had no evidence, her father went free. His subsequent abuse sent Gretchen's sister into an insane asylum. However, Gretchen doesn't know how much longer she can hang on, so Cal finds himself promising to help her get free. Their friendship and his promise to save her will dramatically transform Cal's life. Although this is a powerful historical fiction novel that will make you feel like you are living in the 1950's, it is so relevant to today's teens. Cal feels like a modern teen as he hangs out with friends and pursues the girl he loves, and it is rare to have a book set in that time period discuss sexual abuse. This is a story any teen would identify with as Cal is a likable narrator that you immediately feel sympathetic for. The cover of this book is awful, but what is inside will make even those most reluctant engaged. This is an undiscovered gem! Highly, highly recommended!
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AuthorMs. Smith has been the librarian at Washington HS in Sioux Falls, SD, since 2005. She enjoys reading, watching K-Dramas, Harry Potter and hanging out with her family. Archives
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