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The Life I'm In
Charlese, 16, is an orphan who’s been living with her older sister Juju. But Juju is fed up with Char, who’s been kicked out of four schools for fighting and refuses to go to therapy; she decides to send Char to their grandparents. During the bus ride south, Char meets April, a young woman traveling with her baby. At April’s stop, April leaves her daughter with Char while meeting someone who’s offered her a job, but she doesn’t come back. Char has some money and finds a cheap motel room, excited to have a baby to love, naive about the work involved and how long her funds will last. Enter Anthony, the man April was meeting. The “job” he offers Char is a front for trafficking, and soon Char is being repeatedly demeaned, abused, and raped. Her only consolation is that she got the baby to safety. Char bonds with some of the other girls Anthony is trafficking before she’s able to seize on a rare opportunity to escape. Back with Juju, traumatized Char won’t bathe, is terrified to leave the house, and feels she deserves everything that happened. Her renewed friendship with Maleeka (from The Skin I’m In); Saturday “school” sessions with their former teacher, Miss Saunders; the support of Juju; and her willingness to finally get outside help at a trauma center all play a part in her slow recovery as this young Black woman begins a journey toward self-esteem and empowerment. ©2022 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 13 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
African Americans
Babies
Friendship
Hope and Healing
Self-Esteem and Self-Worth
Sexual Abuse
Sexual Assault and Rape
Sisters
Teachers/Mentors
Trauma
Violence
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Publishers:
Scholastic, Scholastic Press
Publish Year: 2021
Pages: 321
ISBN: 9781338573176
CCBC Location: Fiction, Flake