Chasing Tail Lights

Chasing Tail Lights
by Patrick Jones

CHASING TAIL LIGHTS by

Category: Contemporary

Age Recommendation: Grades 9+

Release Date: 7/24/07

Publisher: Walker Books

Reviewed by:

Rating: 5 Stars

Christy is a senior in high school and can’t wait to get out of Flint, Michigan. She probably never will leave, but

hearing

her father always talk about “chasing tail lights” until they take you where you want to be, gives her the

hope she needs to

get through the mess that is her life.

In fifth grade, Christy’s father died and life has never been the same. Her mother works hard and drinks hard, but

doesn’t

have a kind word for Christy. Christy’s half-brother, Ryan, gets their mother’s love even though he

deserves it the least.

Bree, Christy’s little niece, has become her responsibility. She cooks, cleans, and does

laundry while she keeps an eye on

Bree and swears to keep her safe.

School could offer Christy a way to escape Flint, but with so-so grades and sleepless nights that cause her to be

late to

class or unable to keep her eyes open, things look less than promising for Christy’s future. When Christy

demonstrates

her ability to run, English teacher Ms. Chapman urges her to join the track team. She also supplies

Christy with an

unending supply of books to read, each one with a message designed to help the young girl cope

with her troubling world.

But even encouragement from Ms. Chapman and her best friend, Anne, can’t get Christy

to accept and admit what is

happening on the dark side of her life.

CHASING TAIL LIGHTS exposes the sickening underbelly of sexual abuse. Christy, an innocent victim of the

ugly

crime, fights with determination to better her life and protect those around her. Readers will feel her pain and

cheer her

accomplishments as she learns to accept her situation and make a plea for help. Patrick Jones, author of

THINGS

CHANGE and NAILED, has outdone himself with this one.