Life Riddles Author:Melrose Cooper "Girl, you ought to write it down." — That's what Aunt Barbara tells her twelve-year-old niece, Janelle, who decides to follow her dream and become a writer. But who wants to read about a family that just had the electricity turned off? Or about a girl with holes in her sneakers and an even bigger hole in her heart left by a daddy who ran away? — ... more »But as Janelle begins to write about the ups and downs of life and all her sad and mad feelings, she discovers the strangest things: that she can create poetry out of pain, and that a struggle can be a way of making a dream come true . . . .
"This book's strengths lie in its strong character development, lovely writing, and heartfelt message about what really makes a family rich."
--School Library Journal
"A wise, appealing book . . . Well-drawn characters and a lively and consistent voice echoing the rich color and cadence of African-American speech."