I thought this sounded interesting, because I can't even begin to know what it would be like to be a twice pregnant, African american 14 year old. It's a great book. Hard to put down, and there's something deeply compelling about Gayle's hard shell -- I was fascinated at the idea that one of the things your community does for you is to fight with with you, That snapping at each other is a healing thing. I loved her journey, even though it is certainly a hard one. And I particularly loved that she was always 100% into her kid. Not always a stellar exemplar of parenting, but definitely very attached and committed to him.

Being reissued, got the advanced reader's copy from Edelweiss. ( )

A very well written, tightly edited realistic fiction for teens about a 14 year old mother sent to live down south with family members who don't like her. Except for a finale that tied up lose ends a little too perfectly, this book was great. It is perfect for reluctant readers and fans of urban or realistic fiction. I read three-quarters of it in 3 hours. ( )

Gayle is a fourteen year old girl who lives in New York with her mother, her brother, and her baby boy. Gayle is tough and street smart, but ignorant about life outside of her neighborhood. When she gets pregnant a second time, her mother takes her to a clinic for an abortion and then ships her off to Georgia to live with her Uncle Luther (a preacher) and his family. Gayle, who thinks she already knows everything, might just discover that she has a few more lessons to learn about life and family.

Excellent. Gayle's voice is fresh and strong. ( )

Gayle is 14 and pregnant with baby #2. Mama Ruth Bell is not about to sit still for this newest mistake, so she marches Gayle down to the neighborhood clinic for an abortion. Afterwards, Gayle's rebelliousness kicks into high gear and Mama packs up Gayle and her baby - Jose/Emmanuel - and puts them on a plane "down souf" to their people. Gayle fumes all the way to Georgia - the indignity of having to leave her "girls" and her "man" PLUS suddenly having to take complete responsibility for her 7 month old son AND knowing that the people who will meet her at the airport really don't want her - all combine to put Gayle at the height of nasty when she finally meets her family. It doesn't take Gayle long to realize messin' with Uncle Luther is definitely NOT a smart thing to do, and it sure doesn't take her long to size up her girlish cousin Constance, also known as "Cookie." Life looks like it will be chores, church, and more chores until Gayle meets her Great Grandmother Abigail, known to the family as "Great." Great begins to change Gayle with her stories of family and times before; Gayle's presence also has an effect on Great, who finds her tart tongue and manages to persuade Gayle to fix up a batch of the family "recipe" to help ease her way to paradise. Gayle slowly comes to realize that she shares a rich history with her mother, cousin and Great, and that she and her son have much to contribute to the family and the world. Gayle's struggle to accept herself and find her place is one we all can relate to, and Williams-Garcia tells it beautifully. This is a book to be read and cherished. Although peppered with raw language, Sisters on the Homefront is a lovely book that emphasizes the importance of family, history and faith. Gayle's changing relationships drive the story and it is satisfying to see her "saved" not by her uptight, unhappy, Bible-thumping Uncle (who really isn't all that bad!) but by her "recipe" drinking, healer-grandmother. The idea that we are all part of a continuous story and that we as individuals have a lot to offer is one that many young women like Gayle need to hear. This is a book you will not soon forget. Read it and weep ( )