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America E R Frank Books

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America E R Frank Books

America is by far the best portrayal of a young person trapped in society's system of foster care that I have ever seen. The book may be too real for some, but not if you are a realist.

America's battle to understand who he is in this world is an exhiliratingly sad ride that alerts readers to a child welfare system that is overworked and understaffed. America actually gets "lost" in the system, which is symbolic of the thousands of American children who are ignored and "lost" everyday in our country's protection services.

America reminds us that our children need more than just parents to raise and watch out for them. Our children need other adults, teachers, coaches, counselors, neighbors and general role models to look out for our youth and set a positive example for them.

All of those commercials that ask for communities to take a second to get to know their youth are not for those of us who already do that. Even if you chose not to have kids, our country was not built on the attitude of "It's not my responsibility."

I love America symbolically, literally and on so many levels I can't even put it into words.

America is beautiful. If this book doesn't touch your emotions, then you are not human. This book is raw, real and heartbreakingly intriguing.

Thank you E.R. Frank for an expertly written Young Adult novel.


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America E R Frank Books Reviews

I picked this book up off of a shelf thinking that it might be interesting, and I was completely blown away. Social worker E.R. Frank gives us her sophomore effort about a young racially-mixed boy named America (named thus do to the fact that his mother was so promiscuous, that her baby's father could have been anyone in America). After his wealthy foster-family doesn't want him anymore they give him to their nanny, his foster-mother, Mrs. Harper. America spends some happy years with Mrs. Foster, her friend Clark Poignant, and her brother, Browning. Then, his birth-mother asks to see him. Once she has him, she leaves him with his brothers, Lyle and Brooklyn, who teach him the tough ways of the city and how to be bad. America's mother never comes back, but a policemen finds the boys and miraculously tracks down Mrs. Harper. The foster family is united, only now Mrs. Harper is old, her friend Clark Poignant is dead, and Browning now has a secret which he very much wants to share with America, whether America can handle it or not. When America cannot deal with the weight of this secret or his perceived badness, he runs away from home, but not without first leaving an indelible mark of all the pain he has been through. He lives in a mall, then on the streets, and is finally sent to a residential home for troubled boys. When he attempts suicide, he is sent to Rivershore, a psychiatric hospital, where his caring psychiatrist, Dr. B, carefully and courageously works to help America even when America will not help himself.
This was a remarkable book! The fact that Frank is a social worker herself makes it clear that she knows what she is talking about. I enjoyed the way this book followed America's life from one difficult situation to another, leaving reader watching helplessly as America descends into hell. And this is a hell that is all-too-real for many unwanted children. The story is very harsh, showing an unmerciful picture of how painful it is to recover from trauma. It does end with hope, however, yet is realistic, without providing a perfect happy-ending. The story is narrated in chapters, alternating between "then" and "now", slowly spilling out America's story of despair and disassociation. I came to really enjoy America's psychiatrist, Dr. B, as a character. The interactions between him and America are at times so hilarious in their predictability, and one has to appreciate the dedication Dr. B has to helping America. Yet above-all, one grows to love America and salute him in his decision to face his pain and move on. A must-read!
After two months of listserv posts on what material is or is not appropriate for an age group, I'm wondering what these people worked up over "crap" and "geez" in Luv Ya Bunches thought of America when it was published in 2002. As a social worker and psychotherapist, Frank has the perfect understanding of the typical wrecked teen/adult mentor interaction. And while I can understand people's concerns with having teens read the kind of language America uses, I think teens would know that it was being softened by a kind of censorship and perhaps not read the novel. I simply don't know how else Frank could have created America without curses.

America is lost and angry and scared and confused. You read his thoughts and perspective on others in his language and at his pace. Because Frank breaks up the writing into small detailed memories or asides, it's a great book for more reluctant readers who need to pace themselves. It also allows the reader to pay attention to America's memories and points of view - they don't get lost in lengthy prose, echoing America's own fear at being forgotten amid the chaos.

Since America is writing the story, you aren't angry at this bad boy and his obscenities because you get to hear where they are coming from. You must reflect on who he actually is and how he got to be the personality that's shouting at you or hitting you or walking out the door on you. It's carefully done so that regular teens (those non-violent and not lost in the social services system) can relate to America's feelings yet the character remains independent. And if America can survive growing up, we all can.
loved it... Purchased as a gift
This moving book is the meaningful and powerful read that I had expected out of A Child Called It. America is a young kid, lost in the foster system, telling his story to a psychiatrist at a mental health facility. His journey though a terrible childhood and beyond is emotional and well written. Though the story could be a little hard to read at times for a struggling reader, I think that it is a high interest book that many kids would love.
Moving and authentic. I let my thirteen year old read it. He began to enjoy it when there was cursing, but soon, he started realizing the message behind the story. This book sticks with you, regardless of age or background. When given to a child, they are better able to understand coping, seeking help, and the power of healthy relationships through a book that is enjoyable to read without being preachy.

Fantastic book all around.
America is by far the best portrayal of a young person trapped in society's system of foster care that I have ever seen. The book may be too real for some, but not if you are a realist.

America's battle to understand who he is in this world is an exhiliratingly sad ride that alerts readers to a child welfare system that is overworked and understaffed. America actually gets "lost" in the system, which is symbolic of the thousands of American children who are ignored and "lost" everyday in our country's protection services.

America reminds us that our children need more than just parents to raise and watch out for them. Our children need other adults, teachers, coaches, counselors, neighbors and general role models to look out for our youth and set a positive example for them.

All of those commercials that ask for communities to take a second to get to know their youth are not for those of us who already do that. Even if you chose not to have kids, our country was not built on the attitude of "It's not my responsibility."

I love America symbolically, literally and on so many levels I can't even put it into words.

America is beautiful. If this book doesn't touch your emotions, then you are not human. This book is raw, real and heartbreakingly intriguing.

Thank you E.R. Frank for an expertly written Young Adult novel.