Told in various voices “Gypsy Davey” is the story of a dysfunctional family and one voice that rises up like a beacon of hope from the darkness in which it finds itself. That voice belongs to twelve-year-old Davey who is a special needs child. Read the rest of my review on my blog: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/gypsy-davey-chris-lynch/ ( )

Twelve-year-old Davey becomes the man of the house as he assumes the responsibility of taking care of his mother and older sister the best he can. This growing up story shows Davey living with his dysfunctional family and how he avoids them when they are either too sad or too mean to him. As a slow learner Davey doesn’t speak aloud that much, but readers find that inside his head thoughts and words go on and on. Davey only feels normal when he is riding his bicycle. His riding his bicycle around town so much caused his friend a local drug dealer to give him the name, Gypsy Davey. A narrator’s voice along with Davey’s sometimes rambling words gives readers a glimpse of Davey’s troubled home life. He endures physical and mental abuse. Davey has to deal with abandonment, cruelty, and taking responsibility for him and others. Davey’s surroundings is harsh and realistic (alcohol abuse, causal sex, and street language are common). The only thing people can count on is being lonely and frustrated. This is a story that looks at the cycle of abuse. Davey’s dreams of taking his nephew to a place where they can be friends in peace seem to help him arise above everything else in his life and keep on going. VOYA: (3Q-readable, without serious defects; (4P-broad general or genre YA appeal). ( )