Sandra goes to elementary school in one of the poorest parts of the city. Only one child in her fifth-grade class does not qualify for the free-lunch program. ItÕs the rare youngster who resides with both biological parents. Not many of their caregivers graduated high school. Several have problems with drugs and alcohol.
That became the impetus for a book on SandraÕs fifth-grade year, both at home and at school. I wanted readers to discover, as I did, what itÕs like to grow up poor with all the odds stacked against her. To make matters worse, Sandra is extremely shy and anxiety-ridden. Her mother has convinced her that the world is a dangerous place. The child wonÕt go to the zoo because she believes the stories sheÕs been told about how the animals could get loose and kill everybody they see.
I have not seen Sandra since the end of her fifth-grade year. As I write this, she should be entering her freshman year of high school. She deserves the best. I wish her plenty of good days ahead.