Sixteen-year-old Sherri Lenier could see no way out of her miserable family existence. Her anger and resentment multiplied every time her alcoholic father lost a job and squandered the grocery money with more drunkenness.
Enraged and desperate, Sherri resorted to shoplifting to put food on the table—not knowing that one impulsive act would lead her into a habitual life of car theft, check forgery, furniture heists, and ultimately, a penitentiary sentence.
Hopelessly trapped in a revolving door of crime, Sherri sank deep in despair, until a guard tossed a unique paperback book into her cell—a book that introduced her to the one Person who could change her life forever.
Here is a shockingly real picture of the pressures and influences surrounding many teenagers... and a faith-building example of God's power to free young adults from the lure and addiction of crime.
Content: shoplifting, burglary, marijuana, physical abuse, alcoholism, car theft, forged checks, fake ids
I was amazed at how rapidly Sherri and Teresa begin stealing cars and continue doing so, parking them in a clearing in the woods. They also turn to check fraud, which ends up sending Sherri to prison.
From page 152:
Because I hadn't created any problems, I was brought before the parole board after two years. I was one of the lucky ones; they paroled me. I think that my being white and living in suburbia had a lot to do with it. I'd hate to think where I'd be, if I had been born in Harlem!
I found it interesting that in 1980 a white Christian male author understood that whether a prisoner is paroled does indeed have much to do with who they are and what they look like.
I greatly enjoyed reading this book.
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