When Ashley Brown was
five years old, her parents left her in the care of her Grandma, though her
mother promised to return for her. At fourteen, Ashley is still living with her
grandmother in Highland, a city on the outskirts of Maryville, a place known as
the “ghetto.”
Ashley has shadowy
memories of her mother taking her to her favorite place, the library. Reading a
good book allows Ashley to escape her poverty and crime infested community.
One afternoon after
listening to the Mayor’s press conference, Ashley discovers that the Mayor is
taking away the community library. In spite of being put on punishment for a week
by her Grandma for defending herself from the school bullies, Ashley feels it
is worth the risk to sneak out of her apartment to mail a letter she has
written to the Mayor about keeping the library open.
Every day homeless
people approach her and beg for something to eat or for money. The most
frequent requests come from two disheveled individuals Ashley has nicknamed
“Orphan Annie” and the “business-man bum.” As if escaping the homeless people isn’t
enough, there are a bunch of bullies who harass Ashley. One day, the bullies
chase her into an alley. They force her to the ground and Ashley is afraid of
what could have happened next. This is one time Ashley wished she listen to her
Grandma.
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