Touching snow

This book started with an amazing first line – “The best way to avoid being picked on by high school bullies is to kill someone.” – and didn't let me go.

Karina is the seventh grade daughter of Haitian immigrants, and she's dealing with a lot. Her teacher wants to put her in special ed, the other kids bully her, and her stepfather doles out severe “beat-ups” for any mistake.

M. Sindy Felin gives a hard, realistic look at life under an abusive parent, from the way it affects everything even when he's not there to the considerations such as how the family will support itself if he's taken away. She doesn't overlook the rest of Karina's life, none of which is easy, but some of which has nothing to do with her stepdad. And there is humor and a first romance and hope and, ultimately, a realistic, surprising, and satisfying resolution,