Begging for Change (Bccb Blue Ribbon Fiction Books (Awards))

Rating:
Summary: For the Love of Money
Review: BEGGING FOR CHANGE is the highly anticipated sequel to Sharon G. Flake's Money Hungry. This book picks up the story of Raspberry Hill a girl who is obsessed with money, because of the security it brings her. Determined not to be homeless again, Raspberry is the budding entrepreneur, doing anything legal to obtain money. In this book, she finds that although money can bring about security, it cannot ensure happiness.

The book begins with Raspberry's mother being assaulted by a young girl because she is trying to keep peace in her neighborhood. Raspberry is distraught, feels threatened, and as a result she steals money from her best friend, Zora. This causes a rift between the girls. Raspberry also begins to develop feelings for Sato, a boy from her school. She is faced with the dilemma of being in love without losing her entrepreneurial spirit. The book also introduces Raspberry's father, a homeless, crack addict. Although Raspberry loves her father, she has difficulties in "liking" him, especially when he steals her hard-earned money. She also deals with an identity crisis, wondering if she has inherited any of her father's ways.

Sharon G. Flake has done it again. Her latest book ties up loose ends from Money Hungry, but introduces new problems and situations. The recurring theme of the identity crisis, shown through Raspberry and her biracial friend, Mai, is one that children who read this book will readily relate to. I highly recommend this book for fans of Flake, and for children who may have difficulties accepting themselves or their parents.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Rating:
Summary: For the Love of Money
Review: BEGGING FOR CHANGE is the highly anticipated sequel to Sharon G. Flake's Money Hungry. This book picks up the story of Raspberry Hill a girl who is obsessed with money, because of the security it brings her. Determined not to be homeless again, Raspberry is the budding entrepreneur, doing anything legal to obtain money. In this book, she finds that although money can bring about security, it cannot ensure happiness.

The book begins with Raspberry's mother being assaulted by a young girl because she is trying to keep peace in her neighborhood. Raspberry is distraught, feels threatened, and as a result she steals money from her best friend, Zora. This causes a rift between the girls. Raspberry also begins to develop feelings for Sato, a boy from her school. She is faced with the dilemma of being in love without losing her entrepreneurial spirit. The book also introduces Raspberry's father, a homeless, crack addict. Although Raspberry loves her father, she has difficulties in "liking" him, especially when he steals her hard-earned money. She also deals with an identity crisis, wondering if she has inherited any of her father's ways.

Sharon G. Flake has done it again. Her latest book ties up loose ends from Money Hungry, but introduces new problems and situations. The recurring theme of the identity crisis, shown through Raspberry and her biracial friend, Mai, is one that children who read this book will readily relate to. I highly recommend this book for fans of Flake, and for children who may have difficulties accepting themselves or their parents.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable and real
Review: I haven't read a juvenile fiction book in quite some time but the voice of the narrator is what made me want to read Begging for Change. It's the story of Raspberry, a young girl who is going through much adversity that involves her family and friends. I think Raspberry is a character that kids or grownups can understand. She is emotional - mad, happy, afraid, shy, indignant, jealous, and everything in between. She's not perfect, she's real and that's a wonderful attribute to find in fiction. If you enjoy reading about young people and want to understand how they think and where they are coming from in terms of friendships, family, loyalty, and justice, you might enjoy reading Begging for Change.

Rating:
Summary: begging for change
Review: Raspberry Hill, who was once homeless vowed never to be on the streets again. She thought that money was everything. But when a neighbor attacks her mom and nearly kills her, she starts to steal from her best friend and from her other neighbors. After her best friend finds out, she loses a very dear friend. Raspberry, who loves money so much, doesn't admit what she has done. At the same time she is struggling between two hard relationships, her blossoming one with a Sato, a boy from school, and her drug addicted father, who steals from Raspberry, lies, and is living by himself on the streets. After stealing from her best friend and good neighbor, she can't help but think that she has inherited her father's lying and stealing ways.

I would recommend this book because I think it was fun to read and I enjoyed it very much. It was very captivating because of the way it captured the characters' moods.

Rating:
Summary: she did it again!
Review: Sharon Flake did it again! All her books are so interesting! I couldn't put 'Begging for Change' down! I read it in 2 days. I hope she keeps on writing...