Strollerderby

Cole, the mansion in "The House That Crack Built" belongs to the Colombian cocaine plantation owner, not to marginalized youth who manage to avoid falling into selling crack themselves. The book lays out the whole story of crack cocaine from crop to rock, showing who profits and who pays along the way. It's actually a pretty great book for adults - you should check it out. It's frequently used in support groups for children of addicted parents, or in child/family therapy.

And as someone who grew up with alcoholic parents, I would have welcomed a book like "I Wish Daddy Didn't Drink So Much". Of course kids growing up in such families need more than a book, but the validation of experience would have been nice even at age 5 or 7. Again, though, this is a book that's most often used in child support groups and therapy -- it's not likely to ever be a hot seller on the Kid Lit circuit.

"Don't sell drugs, kids, or one day you'll live in a beautfiul mansion."  

HONK!! Darn you to heck for making me laugh about such a serious subject. ;)

We found "Matilda, Who Told Such Dreadful Lies and was Burned to Death" at a church rummage sale and had to buy it. Love it!