Pain & Wastings (Orca Soundings) - Softcover

"[A] captivating main character and excellently-paced plot. Highly Recommended."--CM Magazine

"While a story of tough kids in a tough situation, this is also a story of hope and an unlikely friendship."--KLIATT

"Any teens who are fans of gritty, realistic fiction will enjoy this short novel."--Resource Links

"Heavy topics of drug abuse, prostitution, and murder make this a gritty and gripping story."--The Horn Book Guide

"The characters are believable and compelling. The plot moves at a fast pace. Moreover, the graphic descriptions of ambulance calls make this book an excellent suggestion for male reluctant readers."--South Western Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group

"First dead person, Kid?" John asks. I decide not to answer him, because I don't want to get into it. At fifteen, Ethan is on the fast track to nowhere. In and out of group homes and constantly in trouble, he is fighting to find a sense of who he is. After breaking into an amusement park and being savaged by a police dog, Ethan is befriended by a paramedic. Offered a choice of court or going on a ride-along in an ambulance, Ethan takes what he thinks is the easy way out. On Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Ethan comes face-to-face with the horrific truth from his past and must learn to deal with where he came from-and where he is going.