Lost in the Tunnel of Time by Sharon M. Draper

When Jericho is invited to pledge for the Warriors of Distinction, he thinks his life can’t get any better. ‘Then suck my big toe.’ ‘Sir?’ Jericho wasn’t sure if he had heard correctly…

‘Are you willing to do anything to help your slimy pledge brothers become Distinguished Gentlemen?’ Sharp demanded. As Keisha struggles to put her world back in perspective, she learns the power and the danger of silence, and discovers the secret gifts that had been waiting for her all along. But events take a terrifying turn, and suddenly darkness overwhelms her life… Gifts wrapped with silver ribbons begin to mysteriously appear on her doorstep, and Keisha is swept off her feet.

Jonathan makes her feel alive again he seems like the answer to all her dreams and the cure to all her nightmares. As Jonathan tells her, she’s a butterfly ready to try her wings much too mature for high school boys, whose only deep thoughts are words from rap songs. In her senior year of high school, still recovering from the suicide of her ex boyfriend, Keisha’s thrilled to have someone treat her like a woman rather than a girl. But best of all, twenty three year old Jonathan Hathaway, the new track coach and the principal’s son, has his golden eyes set on Keisha Montgomery. He can discuss everything from art to world events, he’s traveled the world, and he owns a Jeep, a condo, and a jazz CD collection. He’s a ‘lemon drop wrapped in licorice’: tall, dark, handsome, and as smooth as his silk shirts and leather jacket. It is an inspiring story of a young man who rises above the tragic circumstances of his life by drawing on the love and strength of family and friends. Draper has interwoven characters and events from her previous novel, Tears of a Tiger, in this unflinchingly realistic portrayal of poverty and child abuse. In the end he must stand up to his stepfather alone in a blazing confrontation. Trouble still haunts them, however, and Gerald learns, painfully, that young friends can die and old enemies must be faced. The one bright light in Gerald’s life is his little half sister, Angel, whom he struggles to protect from her father, Jordan Sparks, who abuses her, and from their mother, whose irresponsible behavior forces Gerald to work hard to keep the family together.Īs a teenager, Gerald finds success as a member of the Hazelwood Tigers basketball team, while Angel develops her talents as a dancer. A brutal stepfather with a flaming temper and an evil secret makes his life miserable.

Then he loses the loving generosity of a favorite aunt. His substance addicted mother is taken from him. But fire is dangerous and powerful, and tragedy strikes. When Gerald was a child he was fascinated by fire.

Lost in the Tunnel of Time by Sharon M. Draper