Better Must Come

Gr 9 Up–This action-packed and gritty depiction of drugs, death, and divine intervention paradoxically weaves the lives of young adults with that of three gang members. With Jamdown, known as Jamaica, serving as the backdrop to this dual time line story, readers quickly become attached to Deja, the young teen left to care for her sister and brother living life as “barrel kids.” With mom away in “foreign” (New York), seeking jobs that pay more, Deja has learned to hustle and barter to make ends meet. A chance meeting by the water with Gabriel, who grew up in an orphanage and is now caught up in a gang, leaves Deja feeling as if there could be life for her at some point—but not now, when her mom is unable to send money and she’s worried about paying rent and tuition for her siblings Kaliesha and Donovan. Deja has no idea their worlds are about to collide with influences from the posse (gangs), government, and Deja’s first love, sailing. After a whirlwind turn of events, Deja realizes she is caught between the devil and the blue sea, as she must race against time and fate to secure a better future for her family.