RUNNING THROUGH SHADOWS

A simple crime gives way to a life-changing adventure for three homeless teenagers in debut author Taouk’s moralistic bildungsroman.

Life is tough, and friendship means everything for homeless teens Peter, Chris and Rosa. They make a living on the streets, sleeping in a van, stealing money for food and charming meals out of a local waitress, but their hardships are tempered by their strong bond and can-do spirits. Although life on the run is never easy, the trio seems to have it figured it out until the day they decide to rob a local Catholic church. At first, it seems as though they’re successful, but when an attempt at selling stolen goods takes a bad turn, the friends end up seeking forgiveness from the Catholic priests they stole from. Before they know it, their run-in with the police sends Rosa back to her aunt Jacky and a past she’d rather forget. Soon, Peter and Chris uncover painful secrets of Rosa’s childhood as they try to help their friend cope with a situation they don’t fully understand. Through it all, they develop an unlikely relationship with the Catholic priests, and they begin to reconsider the trajectory their lives are following. The ending is slightly preachy and saccharine, but it’s nonetheless satisfying to watch this lovable cast evolve. The three teens’ warmly written friendship leaps off the page with a realistic balance of disagreements, vulnerable moments and true-blue selfless loyalty, and a thread of mystery will keep readers guessing and engaged.

Resolves a bit too happily and neatly, but it’s a comforting, worthwhile trip to a reassuring universe.