Chasing Tail Lights (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Chasing Tail Lights Karen Coats Jones, Patrick Chasing Tail Lights. Walker, 2007294p ISBN 978-0-8027-9628-8$16.95 Ad Gr. 10-12 Since her father's death, Christy's life has been mired in depression and despair. Her oldest brother is in prison, leaving Christy in charge of his preteen daughter, Bree; her next oldest brother, Ryan, is sexually abusing her; and her younger brother is fighting for his own survival, trying to stay out of trouble and work his way out of their life of poverty and crime. Christy has two real friends, or at least she thinks they really like her—despite the fact that they met when she became their dealer, selling her brother's weed at her high school. She also has a supportive teacher who is trying to get her to open up through a selective program of extra reading that starts, aptly enough, with Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak. When her crush rejects her at a party, she attempts suicide, introducing a counselor into the mix of hands reaching out to save her. Slowly, she begins to reach back, and pull herself away from her bleak circumstances into a chance at a brighter future. Despite the progress she makes, however, her lesson seems unfinished in the end: when Christy finally stands up to Ryan, having realized that her silent fear has been empowering him all along, he transfers his abuse from her to Bree. Instead of helping Bree learn the same life-saving lessons, however, she writes a letter to Bree's father in prison, ensuring that Ryan will not survive the year he is sentenced to serve in the same facility. While there is emotional satisfaction in her revenge, her plan isn't likely to help Bree escape the crippling depression Christy herself had to work so hard to overcome. Despite this unsettling conclusion, Jones tackles a lot of relevant issues here, and he writes with unflinching candor if not complete credibility. His look at teen rebellion and the misunderstandings it can engender is full of hard-to-face [End Page 144] truths, and his ultimate faith in teens' ability to survive tough circumstances may inspire readers. Copyright © 2007 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois