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Engaging, Powerful, Informational

Raven Publishing, Inc. has succeeded again by providing another book of fiction to address the contemporary issues facing today?s preteens and teens. ?An Inmate?s Daughter,? by Jan Walker, is designed to increase awareness of the daily conflict faced by children who have an incarcerated parent.

The story is about thirteen year old Jenna, whose father is serving time in prison for murder. After a move to a new community Jenna found herself without friends. The stigma of her father?s imprisonment and her mother?s obsession about keeping this fact within the family leave her feeling insecure about making new friends. Jenna is half Native American and is also confronted with Bi-Racial bigotry. Jenna writes in her journal to help sort out her feelings.

While on a family visit to the prison facility on McNeil Island to see her father, Jenna saves the life of a young child from drowning. News coverage of the event becomes a problem. Jenna?s mother is afraid that the family?s identity will be discovered exposing their embarrassing secret. Jenna is concerned how this will impact her evaluation status in a secret club, if members find out about her father?s imprisonment.

Jan Walker has masterfully written a story that weaves a plot around a secret club, a soccer team, a hurting family, and the standard for true friendship in this warm, true to life, exciting adventure story. The pen and ink drawings of Herb Leonhard enhance the feelings and emotions of the narrative.

Jenna is faced with three choices. She can continue to live a lie. She may bring hurt and shame to her mother and younger brother, or she can choose to experience living in the freedom of truth.

Young readers, grades five through eight will enjoy this book. It is an ideal book for classroom teachers, child counselors, pastors, correctional officers, and social workers, or anyone who regularly has contact with children who have a parent in prison.

As reviewed for Midwest Book Review