Really good book but so much of it didn't meet up with reality. While I admire what the character was trying to do I don't approve of giving teen readers the idea that doing what she did is the right way to handle the situation she found herself in or that all would come out okay as this story did. Still I was eagerly turning the pages to get to the end. Not sure I would recommend it though. ( )

It just figures that Victoria's dad fails once again to be at the train station like he's promised. Fuming, Victoria watches as a teen mom statshes her bruised little boy in the train's bathroom. When the mom gets off the train alone, Victoria decides she's had it with all the poor excuses who call themselves parents. Making a split-second decision, Victoria boards the next train out of town-taking the little boy with her. ( )

Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

What would you do if you saw a child with someone you deemed as an unreliable and uncaring mother?

Victoria is faced with this problem, as while she is at the train station she witnesses a mother verbally abusing her son, and later getting into an argument with a man.

Usually, most people would see such a situation and shake their heads. With Victoria, not only does she notice the trouble that the boy's life could possibly be in, but she takes action by taking the boy, Willis, from his mother.

Together they go on an adventure, not toward New York where she had originally planned to go to be with her father, but to Georgia.

As their journey continues, Victoria and Willis faces numerous obstacles, from threats to calls from those wondering about her actions, to the fact that she just kidnapped a child, even though she had good intentions. The longer they are on the road together, the larger the impact they have on each others lives and the more dangerous their adventure grows. The right actions just turn out to be wrong in other people's eyes.

Stacy DeKeyser takes us on a journey of someone who sees themselves as weak but whose actions are powerful. Just from the fact that Victoria's family life isn't perfect we understand that she does not want the same fate for Willis. And yet we still must question whether it was the best idea. Two unlikely characters come together and create a bond that is heartwarming and incredible.

JUMP THE CRACKS is an amazing novel and readers need to jump on the bandwagon and experience an adventure that will make us wonder: "What would we do in this situation?" ( )

Victoria has HAD IT with adults lying to her and breaking promises. Her dad's been letting her down ever since he moved to New York, ever since he left their family. And he wasn't there to meet Victoria's train from Connecticut. And she needed him to be there. If he had been there, maybe she wouldn't have been in such a mess. Maybe she wouldn't have taken the toddler whose mother left him in the bathroom on the train. Maybe he could have helped her figure out what to do. But he wasn't there and now Victoria is on her own with a two-year-old to take care of and a man threatening her because he thinks she stole his money. But whatever happens, Victoria's made a promise to this kid. She won't let him fall through the cracks.

I picked up this novel and didn't want to put it down. Although the premise is somewhat outlandish, Victoria felt really real to me. She's idealistic and passionate and stubborn, but she knows that she can't take care of a two-year-old forever. She reaches out for help and keeps reaching out, even when the adults around her disappoint, until she finds someone she can finally trust.

Read more on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/10/book-review-jump-cracks.html ( )