Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa
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(Paperback)
- Pub. Date: March 2009
- 170pp
- Sales Rank: 267,961
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| Library Binding | $26.00 |
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Product Details
- Pub. Date: March 2009
- Publisher: Livingston Press
- Format: Paperback, 170pp
- Sales Rank: 267,961
- ISBN-13: 9781604890303
- ISBN: 1604890304
Synopsis
Set in the slums of New Orleans, among clusters of crack houses and abandoned buildings, Dirty Little Angels is the story of sixteen year old Hailey Trosclair. When the Trosclair family suffers a string of financial hardships and a miscarriage, Hailey finds herself looking to God to save her family. When her prayers go unanswered, Hailey puts her faith in Moses Watkins, a failed preacher and ex-con. Fascinated by Moses' lopsided view of religion, Hailey, and her brother Cyrus, begin spending time down at an abandoned bank that Moses plans to convert into a drive-through church. Gradually, though, Moses' twisted religious beliefs become increasingly more violent, and Hailey and Cyrus soon find themselves trapped in a world of danger and fear from which there may be no escape.
Customer Reviews
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Hauntingby SheilaDeeth
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November 11, 2009: The narrator of Dirty Little Angels is a teenage girl called Hailey who's watching her family and world fall apart. Her voice is rendered so convincingly by the author, Chris Tusa, that I feel like I'm sitting on the wall next to her, listening to her talk. Characters are vividly described, without the reader ever feeling like the story's paused for explanation. And the dark underworld of pre-Katrina New Orleans comes to hot humid life.
Hailey's mother follows religion with her eyes blind to the world after a miscarriage. Her brother follows a black preacher who believes in giving God's justice a hand every once in a while. Her friend follows a guy who cheats on her. And her father follows a stripper whose husband is dying in hospital. Meanwhile Hailey doesn't know who to follow or trust, except the elderly neighbor Verma. But she wonders why God doesn't help.Maybe we all have to help ourselves Hailey concludes in an ending that keeps the reader glued to the page. And the dirty little angels of the title watch and wait. The novel leaves me sad like Hailey, having looked at a dirty, broken world, and knowing there are treasures underneath. And the treasures of this book lie in its heart-wrenching prose, achingly real characters, and superbly rendered imagery. This story is one that will haunt me way beyond the final page.A Good Readby Angie26
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November 10, 2009: I thought this book was a really good read. I enjoyed it very much. The characters in this book seemed so real and alive. You felt as if you were right there with them the whole time. The story painted a good visual about how life in the ghetto is for kids growing up in Louisiana - how people interact with one another and how the outside world doesn't even exist around them. I thought the writing style was smooth, crisp and delightful. The descriptions and expressions used to describe the story and the characters, as well as the story were provocative. It's an original story - both unique and eye-opening. It reminds me how life outside the typical suburban neighborhood can be rough and sometimes dangerous for kids, and because of this they are less fortunate than others. I found myself intrigued by Hailey's life. In spite of her parent's troubles, I admired the love the whole family had for one another, and how they all were there for each other. I also loved the ending; it was strong and a great satisfying punch. I would definitely recommend this book.
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