Letting Go of Bobby James : Or How I Found My Self of Steam
by Hobbs, ValerieFormat: Hardcover
Pub. Date: 2004-08-13
Publisher(s): Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
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Summary
A heartwarming journey to self-discovery When sixteen-year-old Sally Jo Walker, known as Jody, is abandoned at a gas station by her husband after he hits her, she summons up all the courage she can to move forward. With just twenty dollars to her name, she begins a new life in Jackson Beach, Florida, washing dishes at Thelma's Open 24-Hour Cafeacute; and sneaking into the cineplex at night to sleep. Eventually she saves up enough money to rent a cheap motel room. There she gets to know Effaline, and comes to see that here's a girl who is more alone and lost than she is. Jody is going to save her. And in trying to do so, Jody might just save herself. At turns heart-wrenching and funny, Valerie Hobbs's latest novel introduces readers to an unforgettable and surprising young woman who manages to break free of an abusive relationship and finds true strength and her "self of steam."
Author Biography
Valerie Hobbs is the author of many acclaimed books for young adults, including Sonny's War and Tender. She lives in Santa Barbara, California.
Table of Contents
From Letting Go of Bobby James: Or How I Found My Self of Steam
We are at a picnic table just an overhand pitch from the ocean, and the sun is shining something fierce. I'm about to give Bobby James a peck on the cheek because I'm feeling so good, when out of the blue he says something funny. As in funny peculiar. Just why did I want to get hitched up with him anyway? he asks. And I can see he doesn't really want the answer, and he's starting to heat up the way he does. What you need to do then is play him out on a long line and wait till he can be reeled back in. But this time he winds up tighter and tighter, and then he just pops me.
Just like that, with the back of his hand.
And some voice inside tells me not to cry out, some voice that's been there all the while I guess, just waiting for the right time. And the bright blue ocean and that pretty white sand and the kids streaking by on their skateboards and the family right next to us in the silver RV all tip away and for a minute go black.
Popped me winded.
We are at a picnic table just an overhand pitch from the ocean, and the sun is shining something fierce. I'm about to give Bobby James a peck on the cheek because I'm feeling so good, when out of the blue he says something funny. As in funny peculiar. Just why did I want to get hitched up with him anyway? he asks. And I can see he doesn't really want the answer, and he's starting to heat up the way he does. What you need to do then is play him out on a long line and wait till he can be reeled back in. But this time he winds up tighter and tighter, and then he just pops me.
Just like that, with the back of his hand.
And some voice inside tells me not to cry out, some voice that's been there all the while I guess, just waiting for the right time. And the bright blue ocean and that pretty white sand and the kids streaking by on their skateboards and the family right next to us in the silver RV all tip away and for a minute go black.
Popped me winded.
Excerpts
From Letting Go of Bobby James: Or How I Found My Self of Steam
We are at a picnic table just an overhand pitch from the ocean, and the sun is shining something fierce. I'm about to give Bobby James a peck on the cheek because I'm feeling so good, when out of the blue he says something funny. As in funny peculiar. Just why did I want to get hitched up with him anyway? he asks. And I can see he doesn't really want the answer, and he's starting to heat up the way he does. What you need to do then is play him out on a long line and wait till he can be reeled back in. But this time he winds up tighter and tighter, and then he just pops me.
Just like that, with the back of his hand.
And some voice inside tells me not to cry out, some voice that's been there all the while I guess, just waiting for the right time. And the bright blue ocean and that pretty white sand and the kids streaking by on their skateboards and the family right next to us in the silver RV all tip away and for a minute go black.
Popped me winded.
We are at a picnic table just an overhand pitch from the ocean, and the sun is shining something fierce. I'm about to give Bobby James a peck on the cheek because I'm feeling so good, when out of the blue he says something funny. As in funny peculiar. Just why did I want to get hitched up with him anyway? he asks. And I can see he doesn't really want the answer, and he's starting to heat up the way he does. What you need to do then is play him out on a long line and wait till he can be reeled back in. But this time he winds up tighter and tighter, and then he just pops me.
Just like that, with the back of his hand.
And some voice inside tells me not to cry out, some voice that's been there all the while I guess, just waiting for the right time. And the bright blue ocean and that pretty white sand and the kids streaking by on their skateboards and the family right next to us in the silver RV all tip away and for a minute go black.
Popped me winded.
Excerpted from Letting Go of Bobby James: Or How I Found My Self of Steam by Valerie Hobbs
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