HEARTBREAK AND ROSES: Real Life Stories of Troubled Love

by Janet & Stan Mack Bode ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1994

This is nonfiction on the raw, cutting edge, complete with Village Voice cartoonist Mack's illustrations to tell two of the stories, one about a young woman whose boyfriend's adult aspirations include joining the Klan. Violent, possessive love is not uncommon in the 12 stories featured, and the teens involved repeatedly trust too early or fall time after time for the lure of love as a way to solve problems. Headings jump out at the reader with their intensity, e.g., ""control,"" ""threats""; fact boxes appear here and there to add to data, a sample being information on courting as a ""game of abuse."" The stories are more than eye-opening, perhaps the most moving being a tale of a girl in a wheelchair who has the least ease in staking out her love but nevertheless shows the most ego strength. Most of the other stories are turmoil-filled, from suicide attempts to a character's matter-of-fact revelation of having been ""raped so many times."" One story's title, ""Naked Alone Together,"" tells it all.

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1994

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 160

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1994

Categories: CHILDREN'S