Synopsis: Killing just ain't right, but neither is child abuse.
Young South side Chicago mother Diane Baxter will never win any good parenting awards. Her mother-daughter relationship with her only child Deandra Baxter is as dysfunctional as a family relationship can get. Not only is Diane addicted to pills and alcohol, but she is also verbally and physically abusive to Deandra.
This dark urban drama takes a thrilling turn when twelve-year-old Deandra Baxter refuses to remain a victim to her mother’s friend who is a sexual predator. When she takes matters into her own hands, the end result is murder. The suspense begins to mount as one killing leads to another and Deandra tries desperately to survive life in foster care.
How will she cope with Diane’s abandonment and not knowing if her mother is dead or alive? Can a borderline sociopath ever have true happiness? Or will one final killing mean the death of her only chance for true love?
This is more than just a dark tale of murder for revenge. This bad seed is the product of child abuse and her story is one of survival.
My Review: If you can get past the simplistic cover, Ms. Baker actually offers a great perspective of an abused child entering into the foster system.
This heartbreaking tale of Deandra Baxter's life deals with a negligent mother addicted to drugs who constantly subjects her daughter to physical harm and pedophiles. But rather than take the abuse, Deandra will do anything to survive and that includes murder.
Overall, Ms. Baker did a great job holding my interest. I was genuinely concerned to find out what was going to become of Deandra. Although at times, it felt very much like I was reading more of a memoir, mixed with fictional fantasies of what the victim would have liked to do to her attackers.
I especially was not sold on the final act her mother did in an attempt to redeem herself. Diane was just too damn selfish to ever do such a thing for Deandra. Not to mention her love for Steven was too strong for anyone to come between, her own husband Eric couldn't even sever their bond. Diane would have again, chosen Steven over Deandra and because of that, I was a bit turned off by the ending.
Even though the story ended in a direction I did not agree with, I was still happy that Deandra finally got the happily ever after she very much deserved.
About the Author: Baker is a divorced single parent of one adult son. She currently resides in sunny California and enjoys spending time with family when she’s not busy writing. Her love of writing started early in life; much too far back to recall the exact moment. But Baker credits author Charles Keyes’ book: The Courage to Write for motivating her to not just write, but take her writing serious.
Buy Links: https://www.amazon.com/Skipping-Childhood-Abused-Foster-Adolescent-ebook/dp/B01M5JCGKG/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Young South side Chicago mother Diane Baxter will never win any good parenting awards. Her mother-daughter relationship with her only child Deandra Baxter is as dysfunctional as a family relationship can get. Not only is Diane addicted to pills and alcohol, but she is also verbally and physically abusive to Deandra.
This dark urban drama takes a thrilling turn when twelve-year-old Deandra Baxter refuses to remain a victim to her mother’s friend who is a sexual predator. When she takes matters into her own hands, the end result is murder. The suspense begins to mount as one killing leads to another and Deandra tries desperately to survive life in foster care.
How will she cope with Diane’s abandonment and not knowing if her mother is dead or alive? Can a borderline sociopath ever have true happiness? Or will one final killing mean the death of her only chance for true love?
This is more than just a dark tale of murder for revenge. This bad seed is the product of child abuse and her story is one of survival.
My Review: If you can get past the simplistic cover, Ms. Baker actually offers a great perspective of an abused child entering into the foster system.
This heartbreaking tale of Deandra Baxter's life deals with a negligent mother addicted to drugs who constantly subjects her daughter to physical harm and pedophiles. But rather than take the abuse, Deandra will do anything to survive and that includes murder.
Overall, Ms. Baker did a great job holding my interest. I was genuinely concerned to find out what was going to become of Deandra. Although at times, it felt very much like I was reading more of a memoir, mixed with fictional fantasies of what the victim would have liked to do to her attackers.
I especially was not sold on the final act her mother did in an attempt to redeem herself. Diane was just too damn selfish to ever do such a thing for Deandra. Not to mention her love for Steven was too strong for anyone to come between, her own husband Eric couldn't even sever their bond. Diane would have again, chosen Steven over Deandra and because of that, I was a bit turned off by the ending.
Even though the story ended in a direction I did not agree with, I was still happy that Deandra finally got the happily ever after she very much deserved.
About the Author: Baker is a divorced single parent of one adult son. She currently resides in sunny California and enjoys spending time with family when she’s not busy writing. Her love of writing started early in life; much too far back to recall the exact moment. But Baker credits author Charles Keyes’ book: The Courage to Write for motivating her to not just write, but take her writing serious.
Buy Links: https://www.amazon.com/Skipping-Childhood-Abused-Foster-Adolescent-ebook/dp/B01M5JCGKG/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8