“Daddy… can’t we come with you when you leave this time?”
When Michelle asked to be taken away from her abusive mother, she never expected to lose everyone she loved in the process. They said they would keep her and Kenny together. Her daddy said he would be back. And she never even got to say good-bye to Marcie.
All too soon, they were trying to reunite her with her mother, and Michelle is forced to take to the streets, seeking safety in the gang life.
Michelle is third in the Ruby, Between the Cracks series, a winner of the Top Ten Best Books for Teens 2015.
Genre: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Family / Orphans & Foster HomesThird book in the Between the Cracks series, award-winning
"Why are you taking away my kids?” June screamed, holding onto Kenny so no one could take him.
“Mrs. Simpson, there are allegations of abuse. We have to respond to them.”
“I wouldn’t hurt my kids!”
“Come on, Kenny,” Marsden encouraged.
Kenny didn’t move, looking at his mother, scared.
“Michelle.”
Michelle looked at Marsden, who motioned for her to come over. Michelle went over to Kenny and took him by the hand. Kenny refused to move and June didn’t let go. Michelle went over to Marsden without him and stood by her.
Justin pulled Kenny away from June and picked him up.
“Justin, you can’t let her take them away,” June insisted.
“June. It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”
Kenny started to cry.
“He wants me, you can’t take him away,” June wailed. She tried to take Kenny back again. Kenny shook his head. Marsden took Michelle by the hand and took her out of the apartment and down to her car. Michelle obediently climbed into the car and buckled her seatbelt. Justin followed them out of the building with Kenny, who was still crying. He put Kenny down on the seat and buckled him in.
“Goodbye, guys. You be good,” he said huskily.
Michelle held Kenny’s hand and bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears welling up in her eyes. “Where’s Marcie?”
“Marcie’s with a friend for a couple of hours. I didn’t want her to be in the way for this.”
“I didn’t get to say goodbye to her.” There was a hard, hot lump in her throat that she couldn’t swallow.
