A beautiful, forever after that you deserve.” But, you had to show me and everyone else who takes a risk on this book that there is an after or can be an after. It hurt to write you biting yours, when all I wanted to do was save you. “There were plenty of times I bit my tongue. On the other hand, I wanted to do just what Debra is writing in her author’s notes: On the one hand I am extremely grateful that Debra spared me the details as I would never have been able to read them in this story. In saving Gaze, Pixie will condemn herself… She reminded us that we sometimes have to endure to protect ourselves, to protect others. I swear I was bawling like a baby while walking in the street! “Will Mike hit us before the cookies?” In the silence that followed my question, the late night crickets took over. And my heart broke for Gaze when he found his salvation… That’s where the author really gave us the harsh reality of beaten kids, their conditioning to expect the worse. I would have followed her anywhere.”īut the sweet was intermingled with the sour when we got to witness the hard beating Gaze got from his father.

She tugged on my hands to pull me into the full spray and I followed. I felt it in a part of my mind that knew my name. “The mist from the hydrant combined with the angle of the declining sun tossed a rainbow-colored halo above her head. We’ll soon learn that his father is a drunk and beating him.ĭebra succeeded in describing the sweet memories of kids used to being poor but living the best summer of their lives while becoming best friends forever. He’s just arrived with his father and she’ll take him under her protective wing.

When she meets Gaze he is living in the building in front of her own, same level. She knew everyone in her neighborhood and was fierce with her baseball bat! Pixie was such a competent mini adult, managing the books, paying the bills. We get to follow Pixie Rae when she is twelve, living in a town nearly on her own as her mom is working three jobs to make ends meet. This is sad and sweet, hard and soft, moving and heart lifting at the same time. She writes with nuances and soft touches that speaks to my soul and move me every time. Reminding me how Debra Anastasia knows how to write about sweet heroes that are no less male and fierce protective female characters. The love story was perfect and it left a lasting impression.ĭrowning in stars was a real treat. When I read Poughkeepsie years ago, I fell in love with that story where the gentle hero reminded me so much or Archer (Archer’s Voice) with his sweet and quiet soul. And that’s how I fell in love with Debra Anastasia’s stories for the second time in my life…

Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia