Dirty Little Angels

by Chris Tusa

Set in the slums of New Orleans, among crack houses and abandoned buildings, Dirty Little Angels is the story of 16-year-old Hailey Trosclair. When the Trosclair family suffers financial hardship 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 at an abandoned bank that Moses plans to convert into a drive-through church. Gradually, Moses' twisted religious beliefs become increasingly more violent, and Hailey and Cyrus find themselves trapped in a world of danger and fear from which there may be no escape.

Genres: Fiction, Southern, Poverty, Adult, Ebooks, Novels, Contemporary

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2009

About the author

Chris Tusa is the Writer-in-Residence at Southeastern Louisiana University. His debut novel, Dirty Little Angels, was released by The University of West Alabama in March of 2009. In the City of Falling Stars is his second novel.

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Publisher Says: Set in the slums of New Orleans, among crack houses and abandoned buildings, Dirty Little Angels is the story of 16-year-old Hailey Trosclair. When the Trosclair family suffers financial hardship 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 at an abandoned bank that Moses plans to convert into a drive-through church. Gradually, Moses' twisted religious beliefs become increasingly more violent, and Hailey and Cyrus find themselves trapped in a world of danger and fear from which there may be no escape.

I RECEIVED AN ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER. THANK YOU.

My Review: The thing about receiving author-supplied DRCs is that one never knows whether they're the author's own files or the typeset and formatted files the publisher sells on ebook sites. Luckily for me, I'm acquainted with this publisher so I asked for and received a tree book copy of it.

When you start reading this bitter, sour-faced story of a family's complete collapse, you're expecting more Southern Gothic. Failed fathers, hate-stuffed mothers, frail, failing children, all the usual trappings...set in New Orleans, a place that (to me) reeks of failure on a generational time-scale...and what more fertile ground can there be for a teenage girl to discover the nasty, brutish, short nature of most of humanity's lives.

Hailey is desperate. She's trapped in a web of emotional blackmail and the sticky sap of rage and blame in a marriage that failed the test of character. She's savvy, sensing the sap is slowly turning into amber as pressure and heat build in her parents. Not very surprisingly, she opts to try putting her faith in the christian god. She's from the South, and it's a space hag-ridden by the manifold evils of that religion's ripeness for exploitive behavior. Of course Hailey falls in with an abusive, evil preacher called "Moses" (how original that alias is!) whose plans are just loopy enough to seem visionary to a desperate girl.

The problems that the adult reader sees instantly Hailey sees as positives...the idea of a drive-through church is simply ludicrous...but only long enough to discover that Moses is not there to help her but to use her. It's a horrible realization and it's an angry world that popped Hailey up, so it's no surprise how she ends up behaving in the end.

It's not a long story, and it's not a cheery one, but it's very tellingly presented as a slice of life. Hailey's growing into her full power of womanhood doesn't, in the end, break the mold set by her unhappy family.

It takes a fucking sledgehammer to the whole structure.

If you're up for a bracingly told, frankly and honestly observed coming-of-age story set in an iconic if still catatonic since Katrina location, this is a story you'll love. I did.

[John Rigney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventy years ago, the poet May Sarton wrote about a debut novel “When one puts it down it is not with a feeling of emptiness and despair (which an outline of the plot might suggest), but with a feeling of having been nourished by the truth.” She was writing about Carson McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter , but she might have written the same observation today about Chris Tusa’s Dirty Little Angels .

Each story is told from the perspective of a young girl in the American South, though Tusa’s Hailey Trosclair is a few years older and a little ‘harder’ than McCullers’ Mick Kelly. Both girls come of age in households where the father’s unemployment and the mother’s bitterness at slipping down the socio-economic ladder preoccupy them to the point that their children are forced out of the house to learn life’s lessons. On the way to learning those lessons, both girls deal with issues as banal as classroom popularity and as serious as death.

Like McCullers, Tusa eschews the happy ending. If angels must eat the souls of the departed on their way to Heaven they will get dirty indeed covering Hailey Trosclair’s New Orleans neighborhood, where the truth is that violence is part of life’s fabric and death happens easily. But true to New Orleans tradition, Tusa offers lagniappes — over the bleak canvas of his plot he paints beautiful word-pictures that let us see what Hailey sees, creating an empathy that make us care deeply about his characters and enjoy reading his story.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dirty Little Angels is a very startling, very engrossing, and, at times, very disturbing work. Written from the perspective of a young girl, it provides an insider's viewpoint into a very specific and fairly closed culture - that of the lower class in New Orleans. Since the book has no omniscient narrator, details in the lives of the characters - their race, the setting, events of the past - all come out very slowly and much more organically than in most novels. The result is a picture that builds slowly, compounding layers and resolving lingering questions. But the same viewpoint, being that of a teenage girl, also gives an honest look at the events unfolding around her and the people surrounding her - children are not disposed to sugar-coat. This novel is very compelling, and a very good read. Although it might distress you in points, that seems to be the intention of the author, who is asking us to look around and see what really happens in the world around us. The work has many lightbulb moments, and it will suck you in as it simultaneously repels you. Be prepared for brutal honesty when you pick it up, but definitely pick it up.

[Zeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixteen year old Hailey Trosclair lives in a world in the grip of poverty. With a Mom who's never recovered from a miscarriage and a drunk, unemployed father who has no ambition to find a job, she has little example to lead her out of such a life.

In Dirty Little Angels, we follow Hailey as she navigates the bitter options presented to her. With little regard to consequences, she makes choices that lead her to an inevitable crisis of the mind- a crisis that forces her family to finally look up from their own misery and see the wounded girl in their midst- if only for a brief glance.

But don't look for a redemptive narrative in this story; this is an artist creating a scene in which you take from it what you will.

With bald turns of descriptive phrases that are at once pungent as well as fitly set, the author creates an atmosphere so thick you can almost taste the dirty, downtrodden world Hailey lives in.

Though I would have like to have seen more time invested in the narrative, for word-smithing alone- this one gets near perfect score from me.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the blurb for this book you might be led to believe it is about God or religion. Really it is a coming-of-age story of a young impressionable girl looking for answers and something to believe in.

Hailey is a 16-year-old girl living in the slums of New Orleans trying to find a way to fix her broken family. In this process, she questions religion and tries to make sense of all of the different views on the subject. Basically, she is a confused young girl trying to figure out why things are the way they are. With parents who are too busy with their own problems to even begin to think about hers, having no real positive role model and left on her own to find answers, Hailey turns to her older brother and his friends for support. This book follows Hailey as she maneuvers through life looking for something or someone to help her make sense of things.

This story is told basically through a stream of consciousness with Hailey as the navigator. I love the descriptiveness the author uses in the way Hailey sees things. The use of imagery is impressive and really paints an imaginative picture for the reader.

Though there isn’t much action in this book, it is a compelling read, brutally honest in what a young girl in Hailey's situation might face with no real happily every after. Ultimately what Hailey discovers through her experiences is that no one can be counted on and if you want something changed you have to take action and do it yourself.

That all being said, I really would have loved to see the ending taken a little further. Where the author chose to stop the story left me wanting more, to find out conclusively what happens to Hailey and her brother. Ultimately, I think wanting more is indicative of a great story!

[D.A. Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lately I signed up for Librarything http://www.librarything.com/, where I immediately volunteered to be an early reviewer. It is madness. You can skim through books coming out soon and then select ones you are interested in and the authors send it to you in exchange for a review!!! Life is very good. For an addict like myself, it allows me to feed my craze with no payment other than writing, which I should be doing already. It’s like cutting back on chocolate by eating caramels.

True, early reviewers have a time limit on reviewing, and many of the books are not as worth spending time with as others, but it’s fun to see what’s out there and sometimes you are very pleasantly surprised. I just finished reading “Dirty Little Angels” by Chris Tusa, for example, and initially wasn’t prepared to like it. All the characters seemed unlikable, no one to root for in it all, the geography was grim in terms of visuals and people. It seemed totally grey. And yet…I got sucked in. I found myself unable to put it down, this story of helpless people surviving in a nasty place. It took me a while to figure out that the protagonist was a girl (I blame reading it at night), and even before I did, I could feel affinity for her creeping in. Heck, I wanted to invite her over and give her hot chocolate, poor wee mite. But she isn’t a poor wee mite. She’s bristly and dangerous in her own way, but with an inner life that is seriously messing with her or saving her. It’s hard to tell.

I never would have picked up this book. But now I know the author and will keep my eyes open for more.

[Sproe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa

Chris Tusa gets the reader involved immediately in the struggle 16-year-old Hailey Troslcair is having in this very different “coming of age” novel. Hailey faces the challenges of coping with a dysfunctional unhappy family, well-meaning but ineffectual neighbors who give advice and friends who turn out not to be much in the way of friends. She does what most teenagers to – tries to fit in with her peers, eager to meet and hang out with her older brother’s friends and conflicted to a point of losing herself.

The character and setting descriptions here are excellent and put you right into the head of Hailey, seeing her family and friends and the darkness of the other people she meets as an impressionable young girl might see them. Hailey hasn’t been given much a role model to work with and has to work out her problems largely on her own. When she decides to stop waiting for her father and mother or God to save her family and to take matters into her own hands, it is difficult to blame her.

This is a good read, moves well, and maintains focus on Hailey, making the reader want things to work out for her. I enjoyed it and will be looking for more from this author.

--Sandy Proesch
January 29, 2011

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The emotion, thoughts and decision making processes in this story are raw and very realistic. The teenage behaviours, mother and boy trouble and struggle with identity was written without any sugar coating. Although personal circumstances are different the internal process that translates to Hailey's external behaviours is very relatable. There is no glamour, no falsity and the author forced me to read in almost one sitting.
Following Hailey exploring her inner self, her outer self and everything in between was enthralling. Her decision making process is captured exactly as a 16-year-olds is. The lack of thinking things through while at the same time over thinking parts and focusing on the wrong aspects leads her to the ultimate decision. Her insecurities and spiritual hole are attempted to be filled with a boy, with trying to fix her broken family and by doing good in the community. This does not fulfill her and leads to sacrifice.
While this story ultimately focuses on Hailey and a snapshot of her life, it also highlights that as sad as it is, trauma and tragedy bring even the most broken families together.
I felt different versions of saddness, tension and some smiles through this story and look forward to reading more by Chris Tusa.

[Linda Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was also asked to read and review Chris' book. The story is centered around a lifestyle that I cannot connect with, but I was drawn to the way Chris described things. I like his writing style, except for a couple of times when a metaphor got too repetitious, like when Chase's "little red doll mouth" came up several times.
Bad language, sex, and violence always reduce the rating for me. I read to be entertained, not assaulted, although I must say that I have read worse and was glad that he didn't prolong the objectionable parts. If Chris were to write a book on another subject, I would read it because I think he is a talented author. I would suggest that he flesh out some of the more narrative parts of a story with more dialog, but I appreciated the word pictures he created.
If you don't mind a gritty kind of story, give this one a try.

[drey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally got around to reading Dirty Little Angels, and boy. It packs a whammy of a story into such a little (anything under 300 pages is "little" to me...) book. Hailey is complicated. Adrift. Unable to do anything to help anyone around her, unable to figure out what to do about her mom's depression, her dad's addiction, her brother's life of violence. Moses, the preacher, is creepy. The kind of guy who'd make my skin crawl. But to Hailey, he offers hope that God might save her family.

Unfortunately for Hailey, Moses is not the kind of guy who'll bring salvation to anyone. *sigh* But that's something Hailey needs to learn for herself. And boy, does she. A gripping debut novel from Chris Tusa.

[Severa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was very well written and had a great message to it. Though I'm not even close to being religious like some of the characters were(I can proudly say I am an Agnostic UU). I liked how I could relate somewhat to the main character and cheer her on throughout the book. I loved the ending to the story, it was perfect in many ways, and I recommend this book to everyone! Thank you Chris Tusa for sending me the ebook of Dirty Little Angels, I enjoyed it very much! Keep up the good works!

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dirty Little Angels has a strong religious undercurrent. It is also based in modern times with modern everyday occurences. The two mixed together make for an interesting read. The main family in this book are divided by religious views and modern arguments, as are any other family. This is a great book from a fabulous author. This would make an interesting movie.

[Jennihadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Dirty Little Angels, Christopher Tusa uses a fascinating subtext to tell the grim story of a tenth-grade girl’s violent coming of age. Set in present day New Orleans, the novel’s plot plays out like a Greek tragedy, with characters, themes and imagery aptly and cleverly drawn from classical mythology and given modern twists, often completely upending original interpretations.

The main character, sixteen-year-old Hailey Trosclair, shifts roles depending upon the situation at hand. She appears like a goddess of healing when she visits the dying husband of her father’s mistress in his hospital room, cheering him with genuine kindness but also showing that something is amiss by lighting a cigarette for him (a cancer patient). She becomes like the daughters of classical Greek literature who help and guide their fathers when she tries to break up her own father’s extramarital affair with the waitress/stripper, Iris. Later, as her psychological and moral breakdown take firm hold, she dresses as the monster Medusa for a costume ball; the snakes clipped to her hair become chilling indicators of Hailey’s mental illness and rage. The line between monster and girl is blurred by the fact that Hailey is otherwise dressed like a teenager going to prom, with a beautiful gown that she and her mother shopped for together, and an expensive salon hairdo; despite her downward spiral, we can still catch glimpses of her innocence. When she accompanies her brother Cyrus and his seedy acquaintance, Moses Watkins, as the two men commit brutal acts of revenge in the name of their misguided notions of justice, Hailey takes on the role of goddess who helps heroes. Through this role, she is put in a dilemma that no young person should ever have to face, and she makes a shocking decision. With no Perseus or Heracles to save her, and, like Sophocles’ Antigone, no gods to answer her prayers, Hailey takes matters into her own hands, becoming a “hero” herself, though a seriously flawed one. It’s interesting to note that Hailey’s name is a variation of “Haley,” the Scandinavian name meaning “hero.”

Tusa seems to have skillfully chosen names (many with Greek or Roman origins) for most, if not all, of his characters that have meanings which evoke the essence of the person named, or are so incongruous with the actual person, that the character becomes a parody of his or her own name. At every turn of the page, there is something below the surface for readers to ponder. Ritual animal sacrifice, oracles, the gods’ wrath manifested in weather, reversal of fortune, rivalry of sisters (Meridian takes on this role since Hailey doesn’t have a sister), paternal and maternal rejection of sons and daughters, the downfall of the hero (or heroine) and internal psychological and religious struggles are all themes first made prominent by the ancient Greeks in their writings and dramatic performances, and all have their part in Dirty Little Angels, rendering the story more richly and deeply told.

The novel is not overly intellectualized, however. Even with its biblical and classical literary references, it is very much grounded in the reality of an alienated, 21st century urban teen’s life. Dirty Little Angels packs a wallop in one easy read.

Though the book could have used more careful editing to reduce overused phrases like “old and abandoned,” such minor flaws seem trivial in relation to the overall talent of this fresh, new author. I eagerly await Tusa’s next novel.

[Heatherly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was recently asked to review a copy of Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa. Off the blurb given it seemed like it might be a decent read.

"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’s 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’s 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." - LibraryThing

One of the editorial reviews on Amazon.com called it "the To Kill a Mockingbird of 2009". I would have to grossly disagree. Though I think the idea seemed great and the characters are decently fleshed out, there is no real point to the story. There is no "what it's about" it's a "who it's about". Hailey is who it's about, but I felt like she wasn't real enough to really care about. She walks through the story with no one really tying her down. She has a brother, a set of parents, a best friend, etc. but she has no one that is just hers that she really relates to and confides in. Her first sexual encounter is rushed and done with her best friend's boyfriend while the best friend was sleeping. There was no thoughts to it, just impulse and no consequences. It seemed surreal.

Also, calling Dirty Little Angels a novel is a huge stretch of the term. At best it's a novella, though it seems more like a short story that rambles. If it says anything, I was reading and expecting the climax of the story to happen at any turn of the page; and then it just ended. Looking back, I can find the climax; but it seems a little hollow. I expected something more.

It really seems like it would have been a great story if given some more time, some more editing, and some more plot. The story feels unfinished and hopelessly filled with product placement and bad decisions to make it seem more gritty and real. Instead it feels a little fake, a little desperate, and very undone. It could have been so much better, but I think the author lost his way a little and then rushed to hit the end for publication. It could have been great. Maybe not up there with To Kill a Mockingbird, but at least something more than an inflated short story with no point.

[Terre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other reviews have called this a brutal, gritty coming-of-age novel, and it is that.
However I feel such a description might place this story in the wrong category. It is a coming-of-age story in the same way Bastard out of Carolina was; basically a story of someone growing up and into the cruelest knowledge that those around her are damaged and not nearly good enough to be ushering a young soul into adulthood.
Hailey Trosclair is a sixteen year old girl in New Orleans whose father is an unmotivated and unemployed alcoholic and whose mother is a depressive living in the past and clinging to resentments. These people live in only the dreariest sepia tones, and from them springs young Hailey, our first person protagonist who is suffocating for the lack of color. Brother Cyrus is a protective if misguided delinquent, and all adults - save the compassionate neighbor, Verma - fail both Hailey and Cyrus utterly. Her peers don't do much better, as friend Meridian and the inconstant Chase (aptly named) also betray her.
Hailey's coming-of-age is then coming into the knowledge that no one can really be counted upon, and leaving childhood is ugly, demonic work. Even the dirty angels of our world are less dangerous than the wolves in adult clothing.
Reading Dirty Little Angels was an almost effortless experience. Characterizations were rich enough to add rather than detract from the story. Hailey's narrative voice was engaging, even when she was at a loss due to her own splintering despair. The plot rang true, even throughout the more gruesome or depraved acts of some of the characters.
However, this review would not be complete if I did not mention Tusa's gift of imagery. So few novels really pull it off these days, so I was extremely grateful to be carried into this novel by the rich visualizations Tusa's words created.
I was sent this ebook for a review, and I thank for the author for the experience. I certainly hope Chris Tusa continues to write.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa is not an ordinary novel, it is gritty and sends many messages to the reader. The story is told from the view point of a young girl in the American South. We have Hailey Trosclair, raised by a father who is burdened with unemployment and a mother who is too preoccupied with being miserable. Hailey is forced to endure real life lessons outside of the house- things as mundane as death and shallow as popularity.

Tusa's writing style is magnificent. It is confrontational and the metaphors are haunting. (After my Kindle charges I will have to come back and include some!) The characters will try to justify their actions, both good and bad, through God. I found myself constantly saying, "No! Don't do that!" and wishing that someone would take the narrator away from everything she had to deal with. I can't relate to the characters, they're needy and selfish. That being said, I still enjoyed them and their sad realities.

Talk about a dysfunctional family. Mom? Depressed. Dad? Alcoholic. Brother? Trouble maker. Geesh, where does that leave Hailey? No wonder she is engrossed with herself. Let me just say that this book really made me thankful for the environment I grew up in.

Some have compared this novel to classics such as "To Kill a Mocking Bird." I totally don't think this will be a classic by any means, but the author does tell a compelling story. I just wish he would have given his story more time- it's a little under 200 pages. This isn't a book I will be quick to forget. If you're looking for a happy ending, don't pick up this book... otherwise, go for it. It's a quick, solid read that will take you on one helluva ride.

[ILoveBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author really captures the young adult mind-set and feeling in this novel. The novel is very "dark", even depressing; however, the author means to represent a certain reality in many societies. The reader will have to restrain her/himself throughout the book from wanting to shake the characters and tell them what to do, however, this is likely the author's intention. A good author evokes a response in the reader, a quality Tusa has down pat. Hailey makes for a good protagonist, definitely eliciting sympathy in the reader. Her brother is arrested at least three times for stealing, yet doesn't attempt to change his lifestyle and doesn't consider Hailey at all. Hailey's mother is no role-model and constantly depressed; Hailey is surrounded by drinking, fights, drugs, etc... The author's writing style kept the reader interested throughout the majority of the book, some of his words and/or phrases were a tad redundant in areas, but otherwise good. The reader may feel that there is no "guide" in this novel, a trait that could be seen as negative, but the author crafts into a positive trait-the book builds upon itself, the plot unfolding slowly and the characters developing throughout the novel. Hailey gives an "assumed to be" true account of the events surrounding her. The ending could have used more explanation and detail, but the reader will be mostly satisfied.

I received this book to review, this in no way affects my opinion.

[ManOfLaBook.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this ebook from Chris Tusa on Librarything's Member Giveaway.

"Dirty Little Angels" is a short novel, or a long short story depending on how you look at it, which follows the life of 16 year old Hailey Trosclair. Hailey lives in New Orleans, but could live almost any slum in the world. Her father just lost his job, her mother, a nurse, suffers from depression brought on by poverty (and "what could have been if...?") as well as a miscarriage.
A confused teenager, Hailey and her older brother turn to G-d, and befriend Moses who dreams of opening a drive thru church. However Moses drags both kids down a path of no-return.

The story is told in a raw format which helps the reader to be fond of Hailey and understand when her path and choices of trying to do what's right, turns into everything that's wrong. The book is dark, not sinister but in a depressing sort of way - yet it is a very captivating read. Mr. Tusa doesn't explain too much or make the story clear, but let's the reader figure out several of the finer points. Hailey's life is not black or white, but various shades of gray where the fine line between right and wrong gets blurred in many instances - especially for an impressionable sixteen year old.

This is a rare book, harsh, haunting, tough and refreshing storytelling with an unexpected twist.

[Norma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a gritty tail told from the eyes of a 16 year old named Hailey. Hailey attempts to put into perspective her alcoholic father, her depressed mom, and her miscreant brother.

This author definitely has a way with descriptions and metaphors. A perfect example would be “I could feel little pinpricks of light behind my eyes, my muscles started to squirm like a black nest of moccasins, and my blood felt like chiggers wriggling under my skin.”

Hailey’s mom spends her days laying listlessly in bed staring at an ultrasound picture of the baby she had recently miscarried. One reason that she gives for not being able to go back to work is because she hurt her back months ago.

Her father was laid off from work and now spends his days drinking, playing pool and betting on horses. However, at night, he spends his time either sleeping on the couch at home or sleeping with Iris, the waitress from the local Mexican restaurant.

Her brother has been arrested several times. He hangs out with a really rough crowd. Drugs and violence are common themes in his life.

This was a really great read, but if you like all light and fluff in stories, then don’t read this. This book shows the dirty underbelly of humanity at its worst.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started to read this book, I found that it was walking that line between darkness and light. It carried you through the turmoil of a teenage girls life as she watched all she knew and loved change, the innocence was stripped away from her and the betrayal she felt not only from someone that was close but, friends and companions throughout the story rivaled that of some memories through my own child hood.

It is a fine read and one I personally commend the author on writing he took the time to develop the character and give her the life. So much so I agree with Kitty on this review in saying that there were moments it was she that I saw sitting there writing down her memories as if they were her final confession and offering to those Dirty Little Angels that Chloe her brief encounter spoke of.

In fear of giving to much away I too will draw my opinion and review closed saying only that it's a must read if not for the perfection of a finely written story than to sedate your curiosity and see that this author is well on his way to being one of my personal favorites.

Read more: http://greatmindsthinkaloud.proboards...

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was about a sixteen year girl, Hailey Trosclair, who didn’t seem to have much direction in life. She basically hung out with her older Brother Cyrus, and another girl named Meridian. She was a product of depressed mother and wayward father, so they did not pay much attention to her nor guide her. She eventually tries to get attention by trying to act older than she was and making some foolish decisions.

I can’t say that I enjoyed this book. Usually after I read a book, something stays with me in a form of a theme, message or just event. In this book, I am unclear of what the main objective was. I feel that the title does not connected with the actually story nor the characters. The writing style was okay for the most part, but the ending felt really rushed.

This book did not provide a sense of closure for me. There did not seem to be a real resolution for the main characters. I would have liked a little more development/explanation for setup by Moses, and why he picked Cyrus as his avenger.

In the end, this book left me feeling frustrated and let down. I did not get what the author was trying to communicate with his story. I did not see the big picture.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather rough-hewn, but not a bad effort; the bones of the story are good but it just doesn't ever manage to pull the reader in and make them care.

[Rrhodes]

This is Mr. Tusa’s first work of fiction. It’s set in the pre-Katrina Louisiana area. The cast of characters are of the type you’d find on Jerry Springer. You have the withdrawn mother, the drunk, gambling addicted father. You have the violent brother with not much going on in his life. And then you have the main character of Hailey Trosclair. When her mother withdraws from the family, her father begins drinking more. Hailey and her brother are drawn to the Minister Moses. Moses dream is to turn an old bank, into a drive through Church. As the course of the story unfolds, Moses becomes more and more of a twisted version of someone doing God’s work. Meridian is Hailey’s best friend, and addicted to all forms of surgical enhancement. In fact, each character in this book in someway or another seems to posess their own addictions, be it religion, alcohol, or violence.

While the story is very brief at 147 pages, I found myself drawn into the story, and read it in one afternoon. Mr. Tusa himself was kind enough to provide me with an electronic copy of the book to read. I would say this book was geared more towards the adult reader. If I were to put a rating on it, I would put PG-13, or maybe R. There are some situations such as abortion, violent acts, attempted suicide, etc. that may not be appropriate for younger viewers. There was also a fair amount of strong language, which, while I’m not opposed to, some may want to be aware of if giving this book to your teenagers.

That being said, what did I think of the story. Happily, I must say at first, I didn’t like it. And I mean that in the most positive way. The characters were from the lowest echelons of society, and were rather vile. Meridian for example has the attitude that unless you’ve got a perfect body, your worthless. Jules would rather drink and gamble away his money, than take a job at Wal-Mart. Moses is bent on divine retribution for anyone that he feels is a sinner. About the only “decent” person in young Hailey’s life is her neighbor Verma. It seems deep down that Hailey wants to be a good, righteous person, but struggle with how she can do that.

I loved how the story unfolded and the ending wasn’t something I expected until the last chapter. I’d gladly recommend this book for a good afternoon read. For the first time out of the gates, I feel that Mr. Tusa did a very good job.

[Kari Gibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is completely different from most I read. I normally read about the filthy rich and all the drama that money can buy. But this takes you to the other end.

Dirty Little Angels is set in the slums of New Orleans. It is told by Hailey, a teenager living in a very dysfunctional family. Her father has been out of a job for 6 months and spends all of his time at the pool hall. Her mother used to be a nurse, but after her miscarriage, she can’t get back into the swing of things. Her brother, Cyrus, is 19 and kind of a trouble maker. He steals, he beats … maybe kind of isn’t the right word. The book follows Hailey as she tries to find out if she really believes in God. To help her with the God part is Moses, a career criminal who takes playing God into his own hands.

I got this book in PDF form from the author, Chris Tusa. Since I sit at a computer for 8 hours a day at work, I printed it out and put it in a binder. I really felt like I was reading some homework for school. It kind of made it fun, took me back a couple of years.

I enjoyed this book. I liked that it was told from Hailey’s perspective. This is the second book in a row I’ve read that was told from the kid’s point of view. I feel like I get to learn so much more about the characters when you learn about it from a kid/teen. This book was VERY descriptive. Every person you met and every scene you were in, you knew everything about. I really liked this, because I always try to put myself in the scene and this book made it easy.

The guys in this book kind of reminded me of the Boondock Saints, trying to make those who sinned pay.

The book was a pretty quick read. It is only 170 pages (in PDF). I started it Friday night before bed and finished it Sunday night before bed. I don’t think it should’ve been any longer. I liked that it got to the point, and there weren’t wasted chapters. I have read a lot of books in the past year that were 300+ pages and I would have cut it down to 150.

I liked seeing how drama is dealt with in a life that I don’t know about. This family takes problems in their own hands, and doesn’t really worry about the consequences.

I am going to give Tusa’s debut book 4 bookmarks. Although it was heavier than I am used to, I thought it was written well and kept me interested.

[Molly Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had me reflecting on times in my life when I felt disillusioned by faith and life in general, which happens to everyone at some point or another. Chris Tusa did a wonderful job of conveying the confusion and hollowness that comes with that process. I'll admit, I had to let the book marinate for about a week or so before I could give an accurate answer as to whether or not I liked it because my emotions were so raw.

I liked it very much.

I went to high school at my hometown's "inner city" school (which isn't that impressive; Pensacola's not that big) and Hailey's environment and situation reminded me of several friends. I think that's why I had such a strong reaction to the story. I also saw parts of myself reflected in Hailey: timid in certain environments, second fiddle to her friend, Meridian, and struggling to find her place in the world. She also feels it is her duty to keep her family together and protect various relatives, even from themselves. I can remember trying to take on this responsibility, also, when I was way too young to understand the elements.

Hailey's struggle with faith is constantly stoked by various betrayals and circumstances outside of her control. She finds herself way in over her head throughout the book and ultimately comes to the conclusion that she can only rely on herself. After putting her trust in people who have continually let her down, Hailey decides that she can only have faith in herself. She uses that strength to dig her way out of the hole she found herself in, feeling that you have to save yourself, not wait for someone to do it for you.

I read this book in one sitting. It was completely absorbing and I couldn't put it down. It was a difficult read, but so good. It provided a very realistic view of the realities of being poor and conflicts of faith. I loved the metaphor of the dirty angels that comes up a couple times in the book, more than just as a title. The story flows beautifully, and sucks you in quickly. I would definitely recommend it, especially if it feels like something you might not choose for yourself.

[Jessi Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished Dirty Little Angels today. Starting to think that I'm just not meant to read fiction, because I wasn't that impressed with this one, either. Written about a girl in New Orleans with a troubled life, Tusa starts out the story with beautiful imagery. The first page of the book made me think of She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb, which was an amazing book. I was disappointed in the end though. The entire story just didn't feel right. People didn't seem to stay true to their motives. For instance, Moses, one of the main characters is an all-around skeezbag who starts a "church" in an abandoned building, and preaches a lot about Jesus and salvation. His motives don't appear to stay consistent throughout the story. For instance, dog fighting, illicit drugs, alcohol, these things don't appear to bother Moses, and he never really offers an explanation to defend them in his version of Christianity. He wouldn't be the first religious hypocrite in the world, hoever, so I'll let that one go. It should be noted that although the back cover claims Moses to be a main part of the story, he really is periperal to everything else going on in the main character, Hailey's life.
Although the writing is pretty good, and the story is entertaining, I found the character's motives either completely absent or lacking in depth or completely unbelievable. At one point, its noted that Hailey's mother defied her parents and married Hailey's father, thereby knocking her out of the family inheritance....seriously? Family inheritance? Does it get much more cliche than that?
Hailey herself reads as a much more troubled child than a middle-class white girl with unemployed parents should really feel. She seems completely unfazed by her friend's (and her own) underage drinking, drugs, plastic surgery and even beatings. The story is told from Hailey's eyes, and at times it seems as though its being told by a much younger child. I kept forgetting that she wasn't 9 years old, because her voice really seemed that way.

[Anastasia]

Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews

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. (Synopsis provided by goodreads)

I don't normally read books as dark as this one. (The darkest I get is usually horror, even then I have to be in the mood). While reading this book, I never thought it would have a happily ever after ending.
There was a lot of violence in this book, for me the animal violence was hardest to read as I am a huge animal person. Aside from that, I liked the book. It's not for everyone by any means. The writing is good and the characters always felt real to me. Tusa isn't afraid of having flawed characters. I like it when a reader can easily find the flaws in a character it makes them more real. Tusa, doesn't have any Mary-sue characters which is a welcome relief!
As dark as this book was, I found myself unable to stop reading. The descriptions are very vivid and realistic.
Tusa is a promising new author and if you enjoy dark gritty stories you'll like this one, if a lot of violence, sex, and non-happy endings bother you, I would suggest you skip this one.

Overall rating:
***1/2 3 ½ out of 5 stars

Cover art:
I found the cover art interesting it reflected the story well.

Obtained:
I won an e-copy of the book from the author via librarything. Thank you!

[Kelly Ohl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very hard to review this book, given it was a light read at just under 200 pages, but let me give it a shot.

Hailey Trosclair is a 16 year old teen living in New Orleans and dealing with personal demons raging war across her family. Her mother, Lena, having had a miscarriage a few months earlier and is now bedridden with her own grief and depression, her father, Jules, a laid off alcoholic who is hiding an affair rather unsuccessfully, and her brother, Cyrus, who just can't seem to stay out of trouble and wouldn't even if he could; these are the characters that set the stage.

Cyrus has recently come into the acquaintance of a man named Moses
who while in prison got the idea of opening a drive-thru style church with the idea that people could drive up in their cars and get handed scripture. He had amassed some followers, mainly troubled youth, and Cyrus was more than happy to go along and cause a little mayhem.

One night their antics went a little too far and while Moses and Cyrus were beating up a pedophile they were trying to teach a lesson to, it seems he suffered a brain injury and died a few days later as a result.
That's when suspicion, betrayal, paranoia, and a breakdown of mental stability come into play.

I read this book was compared to literary classics such as To Kill A Mockingbird but frankly, I didn't see it. I would almost compare it to a shortened and water downed version of Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil, just with less social posturing.

With that comparison made I do not want to make it sound like the writer isn't talented enough to tell a riveting story, he just didn't give me enough time to get involved with the story and it seemed like the story he was trying to tell didn't quite fit into the number of pages he allowed himself. However, for a fast read it did stand on it's own.

[Leslie Driggers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes when I read a book I think of a song that fits the theme of the book. I think this is a bit like picking a soundtrack if the book were a movie. The song or songs would help communicate the tone of the story. Chris Tusa’s Dirty Little Angels presented a challenge for me because packed into this 170 page novel is a group of characters so fully imagined, deep, complicated and real that each one should have their own song. If I had to narrow it down to one song, however, I would probably pick Radiohead’s Black Star for its seeming emphasis on depression and human disconnection caused by modern life.

This is the kind of book that takes hold of you and it is difficult to put down. It reads quickly and intensely, which is fitting considering within it is a sad social commentary on how difficult things are for families, individuals, and communities in these our modern times. Everything in our midst burns brightly and quickly; get in and get out, and drive through for your convenience. Of particular poignancy for me was when different dialogue between the characters referenced life one or two generations ago in the form of grandparents telling stories to pass the time. That just doesn’t happen here much anymore and life in America is the poorer for it I think.

Some of the descriptions were so carefully chosen and the imagery so vivid that at some points I felt physically ill while reading the words, and indeed one should feel ill at those parts—some very sad things happen in this book. I haven’t stopped thinking about this book since I put it down. If you are looking for a feel-good, happy read, this one isn’t it. But if you’re looking for something intelligent, dark and thought-provoking, give this a try.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He’d said he was against sin, that he’d kick it as long as he had a foot, that he’d fight it as long as he had a fist, that he’d butt it as long as he had a head, that he’d bite it as long as he had a tooth. And when he was old and fistless and footless and toothless, he’d gum it till he went home to Glory." -pg. 14

"I thought about how I’d spent my life waiting for God to save me and my family. Maybe I’d been wrong all along, I thought. Maybe God didn’t save us after all. Maybe we had to save ourselves, and each other, first." -pg. 176

Dirty Little Angels is told from the point-of-view of a 16-year-old named Hailey. Her life seems to be a little more hectic than normal. Her mother is depressed after her recent miscarriage, her father is a drunk that would rather be out playing pool than looking for a job, and her brother is out stealing and doing drugs. Despite all that, though, they are a loving family. Hailey and her brother get mixed up with Moses, a 'religious' man who wants to open a drive-through church and punishes sinners. Things get out of hand one day and their lives take a turn for the worse. In the end they will find out who they can really trust.

This book was interesting. Having grown up in a somewhat similar environment, I found this book to be realistic. These things actually happen, people. It was nothing like I expected it to be and I'm thankful that I received it as a Member Giveaway because I'm not sure I would have picked it up otherwise. I liked most of the characters, except Meridian. I hate Meridian.
The ending left me a little disappointed, though. I would have liked to know what happened to Hailey and Cyrus after that whole incident at the end.
Overall, I liked this, it was good, quick read.