Book In Review

The Throwaway Piece, is a novel written by author Jo Ann Yolanda Hernandez.   The main character in the novel, is named Jewel.  She is the only child of her mother.  Her mother Angela is single and always hooking up, with her hopes invested in her latest man and what he can do for her.  She goes from man- to- man looking to him to make her life better; only, he never does.   Jewel is judged for her clothing, her lifestyle, her ethinicity, her attitude and her speach.

Jewel is her mother Angela’s joy, her savior, and her anchor.   She is also the ball and chain to Angela’s relationships.   Angela puts Jewel on the back burner until she needs her when her latest man walks out, beats her up, uses her or just plain and simple demands that she dump Jewel into the foster care system.

Jewel is used to saving Angela from her poor choices.  She has changed roles with her mother and becomes the responsible adult in the relationship.  Even in foster care, Jewel has to steady and calm her mother over the phone.

The downside is that Jewel’s emotional needs are always put aside; buried, disregarded and deminished.  Jewel has learned not to trust, not to expect too much…and, to be ready to move at a moments notice.  She is smart but uses confrontational interaction to keep others at a distance.  She yearns to be accepted, loved and nurtured…but is unable to accept that she is worth it.   She holds out hope that she and her mother will have the life that they dreamed of…the fantasy life.  However, she really doesn’t expect it to happen.

Like many State Kids, Jewel has never really fit in.  This last time though, she has found a teacher who supports her, who understands her and who believes in her.  She toys with the concept of having friends…even though she doesn’t expect much from them.   She makes some poor choices and endangers herself after finding her mother Od’d.   She is sexually assaulted.  She saves someone who thinks little of her and in doing so…she finds a grudging respect and opens the door to some adult acceptance.  Her mother has abandoned her and is lost to her forever.

Jewel is strong…too strong; she is vulnerable…too vulnerable.  Jewel is precious and she is worthless at the same time.  Does she find a way to find value in her own life before it is too late?  Does the system destroy her or help her to build upon a foundation that is cracked and crumbling?  Does anyone really reach out far enough to help her to save herself?   You’ll have to read The Throwaway Piece to know for sure.   I enjoyed reading it…because it is real.

Just for full disclosure; I did receive this book as a free review copy.  This in no way, affects my opinion of it.  It is worth reading.  If you would like to purchase this book you can go Amazon.com.  Otherwise, here is a link to the publisher’s website where you can purchase the book directly:  http://www.latinoteca.com/app-home/app-inprints/Pinata_Books .   This book was copyrighted in 2006 by Pinata Books an imprint of Arte Publico Press.

Enjoy getting to know Jewel so that you can have compassion in your heart for foster children everywhere!  Every life has value and meaning…look beyond behaviors and read and understand the heart.