Shifty

Lynn Hazen had me cheering for Soli (aka Shifty) all the way. What an incredibly great read! She flawlessly gave the world a heart-warming story about a hard-edged issue--the forgotten children in foster care who are always trying to climb uphill into acceptance. When Soli erred, I wanted to jump into the book and give him hugs to let him know that the truth would liberate him, not bind him. The hard-knocks he experienced along the way reminded me how resilient some children need to be to survive. The ending was perfect--it gave me a glimpse into the new Soli. He would need a new nickname now. I want to know more about Soli, perhaps with a new name, like `Merit' or something similar. Let's hope Hazen gives us a second book that follows the life of Soli and Sissy. This fast-read is a modern day quintessential story about the life of children in a foster home. It's a reminder to all of us that the foundation of their needs is love. I'm glad Soli, Sissy and Chance were afforded that basic need.

SHIFTY is the best children's book about a foster kid since THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS (one of my faves - by Katherine Paterson, Newbery Honor winner, 1979). Yanked in and out of foster homes for most of his fifteen years, Shifty has finally landed somewhere he likes with a 'sister' and 'mother' he obviously loves, but circumstances combine with his well-intended but ill-advised behavior to threaten his makeshift happy home. As did Paterson before her, Hazen manages to depict a somewhat grim, grown-up theme -- the instability and uncertainty of the life of a ward of state -- with hope and humor. I loved traveling with Shifty as he navigated the streets of San Francisco and the bumpy roads of foster life. What an entertaining trip -- so glad author Hazen let me come along for the ride!

Soli, called Shifty by the foster care system that has shuffled him around all of his life, doesn't always make the right choices, but sometimes the line is thin between the wrong choice for the right reason and sticking to the rules. Full of twists, turns, and complications, this YA novel features one of the most appealing 'reluctant heroes' I've met in a long time. With the help of his new make-shift family; Martha, his new foster mom with a huge heart and half a missing leg, Sissy, his needy but fierce little foster sister, and Chance, the baby who has barely a chance, Soli begins to recognize the voice of his own good conscience and what it means to care.

Abandoned on a Greyhound bus just days after he was born, Soli has a lot working against him. Luckily, this plucky 15-year-old seems to have found a real home at long last. His foster mom, Martha, is a shining example of a woman whose heart is in the right place. Though she does not have much money, she dedicates her life to taking care of Soli, a sweet little girl named Sissy, and Thaddeus, a baby boy born addicted to cocaine. Martha has always seen the good in these kids, and she doesn't believe that people should be defined by labels like "foster kid" and "crack baby." The social workers and people who run the foster care system never give Soli the benefit of a doubt, filling his files with untrue information about how dangerous and suspicious he is. However, Soli doesn't conform to their low expectations. He loves his foster family and never shirks his responsibilities as a big brother and son. Perhaps driving Martha's van without a license isn't legal, but Soli is a good driver and his intentions are pure - he drives to buy groceries or pick up Sissy when Martha cannot. Still, driving without a license is risky business. Driving home bag ladies, escaping tow trucks, and having tomatoes thrown at Martha's white van are par for the course. Anything to avoid being stopped by authorities, where he might get in serious trouble for driving sans license. Soli's biggest dilemma right now is Sheila, the new social worker who is determined to shut Martha down. Sheila is just looking for any little slip-up to file a complaint against Martha, so Soli and Sissy are on their best behavior. Martha is the mother they never had and they will do anything to remain living with her. Who knows what kind of family they might be placed with if they are thrown back into the system? Written with heart and compassion, SHIFTY is a fun and fast-paced read. Readers will be rooting for Soli from page one, indignant at the judgmental people he is forced to put up with and sympathetic to the hardships that he is forced to endure. Lynn E. Hazen reveals a world that most readers could never have imagined, and Soli is an optimistic and courageous character that readers will identify with. After reading SHIFTY, you will want to adopt a foster child yourself, providing a loving home that all children deserve. Reviewed by: Amber Gibson

I fell head over heels in love with this book. Hazen's descriptions of Soli's experience as a fosterkid, of San Francisco's neighborhoods, of the relationships Soli has with his foster sister and foster mother are heart-shattering and as real as they come. I came to care for Soli deeply. I rooted for him, and wanted him to get away with all the trouble he creates. Which he does, sometimes. This is a REAL winner.