4 June 2001 SPELLBOUND by Janet McDonald, Frances Foster Books, October 2001 

SPELLBOUND is a hip and joyful little tale about a teenage mother who decides not to let the tides of fate drag her under.

Raven Jefferson is a bright 16-year-old from the Projects in Brooklyn. Her one big mistake results in her having to drop out of high school to raise her infant son, Smokey. Her relationship with the child's dad commenced and concluded within that one evening.

But buoyed by the support of her mother, who knows about making it the hard way, her big sister Dell, whose style is confrontational but whose love for Raven is large, and her best friend and fellow teen mom, Aisha, Raven sets her sights on a future different from the one she feels herself getting sucked into.

While we get a vivid picture of what it's like for Raven to be stuck as a dropout with a baby, we also get an equally inspiring view of one girl's turnaround. By book's end we know that Raven's determination can lead her as far as she desires.

You can just about put this book to your ear and hear the music and noise of the Projects. Raven and Aisha are a total blast, their babies are cute as hell, and you'll be as sad as me to reach the last pages--SPELLBOUND is way too much fun to actually end.

Richie Partington

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