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Store-Bought Baby
from what the police report
said i was probably
kissing lester at the exact time
my brother killed himself wouldn't mama
just love to hear that There's only one thing that matters. I begin to know somewhere deep inside of me that I would give anything on this earth to be able to hug my brother again.
said i was probably
kissing lester at the exact time
my brother killed himself wouldn't mama
just love to hear that There's only one thing that matters. I begin to know somewhere deep inside of me that I would give anything on this earth to be able to hug my brother again.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2006
3 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Belton
19 books5 followersfrom Contemporary Authors Online: Sandra Belton has published a number of well-received picture books for children in addition to novels for young adults that include the award-winning McKendree. She is perhaps best known for her "Ernestine and Amanda" series about two African-American girls growing up in the 1950s. In an interview with Janice DelNegro for the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books online, Belton noted that the series is enriched by her own experiences as a youngster in small-town West Virginia. "Ernestine and Amanda are the keepers of my childhood memories and dreams," the author remarked. "Their voices echo the ones I heard while chasing lightning bugs and playing at twilight with the kids down the street. The homes they live in and the schools and churches they attend paint a picture of the neighborhoods that nurtured all of us. The events of their lives and the heroes they celebrate are the ones of our heritage."
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 16, 2017
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After the accidental death of her adopted brother Luce, Leah decides to try and find his birth parents.
I found the book to be very boring and lack a plot line. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters and found the story to be dull.
After the accidental death of her adopted brother Luce, Leah decides to try and find his birth parents.
I found the book to be very boring and lack a plot line. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters and found the story to be dull.
March 30, 2022
I like this book
November 5, 2012
Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com
The loss of a child is always a terrible shock to a family, but Leah is profoundly affected by the accidental death of her older adopted brother, Luce. She questions her parents' love for her and how she compares to her near perfect brother. Did his birth parents know what they have missed....did Luce ever wonder about his birth parents? The very shy and introverted Leah decides to try to find out about her brother's biological parents and about the adoption.
Mom seems to be lost in her own world and locked away with the memories of her beautiful boy. Leah's father is coping with the loss much better, and her grandmother, Bibi, helps Leah to accept this turning point in her life most of all. Leah decides that knowing more about Luce's birth family and perhaps finding them will help her to cope with her loss. Her best friend and Luce's girlfriend aid in her search, and when her parents realize what her goal is, they begin to share the details of the adoption with her. Did Luce ever want to find his birth parents? Should she look for them?
Sandra Belton writes with sensitivity about a difficult subject, and her characters are believable and sympathetic. In her first-person, present-tense narrative, Belton expresses Leah's intense feelings in heartbreaking prose that shows her sorrow, jealousy, anger, and love, and defines a "real" family.
This would be an especially meaningful story for any teen who is adopted, or has adopted siblings, but the tragedy of losing a loved one is universal, and the message of parental love in this story is one that will long live in your memory.
The loss of a child is always a terrible shock to a family, but Leah is profoundly affected by the accidental death of her older adopted brother, Luce. She questions her parents' love for her and how she compares to her near perfect brother. Did his birth parents know what they have missed....did Luce ever wonder about his birth parents? The very shy and introverted Leah decides to try to find out about her brother's biological parents and about the adoption.
Mom seems to be lost in her own world and locked away with the memories of her beautiful boy. Leah's father is coping with the loss much better, and her grandmother, Bibi, helps Leah to accept this turning point in her life most of all. Leah decides that knowing more about Luce's birth family and perhaps finding them will help her to cope with her loss. Her best friend and Luce's girlfriend aid in her search, and when her parents realize what her goal is, they begin to share the details of the adoption with her. Did Luce ever want to find his birth parents? Should she look for them?
Sandra Belton writes with sensitivity about a difficult subject, and her characters are believable and sympathetic. In her first-person, present-tense narrative, Belton expresses Leah's intense feelings in heartbreaking prose that shows her sorrow, jealousy, anger, and love, and defines a "real" family.
This would be an especially meaningful story for any teen who is adopted, or has adopted siblings, but the tragedy of losing a loved one is universal, and the message of parental love in this story is one that will long live in your memory.
December 23, 2011
This book was not good. It’s about a girl and her family and how they deal with the suicide of her brother.
First off, is it just me or are there a lot of YA books out there about someone committing suicide and how the main character deals with it?
Moving on, there didn’t seem to be a lot of plot, other than the female main character (FMC) randomly decided to look for her Luce’s birth parents. Her older brother was adopted, and she was not. I get she wants to see his parents, and maybe connect with a part of him, but really? She wants to go looking for her brother’s birth parents? Seriously?
Not only that, but while her name was mentioned, but for the life of me, I could not tell you what it is. The book overall was very dull and lifeless, with no emotion. The characters weren’t developed at all, and I couldn’t tell you what they were interested in.
It just was not good. At all. If you want a book that’s about people dealing with someone who committed suicide, this is not the book to read. I’d give it a 1 out of 5.
First off, is it just me or are there a lot of YA books out there about someone committing suicide and how the main character deals with it?
Moving on, there didn’t seem to be a lot of plot, other than the female main character (FMC) randomly decided to look for her Luce’s birth parents. Her older brother was adopted, and she was not. I get she wants to see his parents, and maybe connect with a part of him, but really? She wants to go looking for her brother’s birth parents? Seriously?
Not only that, but while her name was mentioned, but for the life of me, I could not tell you what it is. The book overall was very dull and lifeless, with no emotion. The characters weren’t developed at all, and I couldn’t tell you what they were interested in.
It just was not good. At all. If you want a book that’s about people dealing with someone who committed suicide, this is not the book to read. I’d give it a 1 out of 5.
September 27, 2007
I ran lukewarm on this title about a sister searching for her adopted brother's origins. While I loved the fact that Belton seemed to be breaking stereotypes of African-Americans portrayed in contemporary literature by writing about an upper-middle-class black family with strong, healthy relationships with family and friends, and I liked reading about the various Chicago locations, the character development and plot lacked a little for me.
July 19, 2012
"Nothing special," was my only reaction after finishing, but the fact that it currently has an average rating under 3.0 really hits that home. Honestly, I can barely remember what it was about at this point. I just didn't hate it.
April 24, 2008
when you grow up and you get a adopted child tell them about their real parents if they want to know
May 16, 2011
This is a very good read to those who have lost a love one! Once you start reading it, you'll never want to stop. Thumbs up!
June 27, 2014
A family deals with the accidental death of an adopted son/brother
December 21, 2013
It was well written. But when I look at the whole picture, it's just a whole bunch of nonsense.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews