Ever wonder what sort of existence a runaway teen leads? Well, Janice Erlbaum knows; she was one of those kids over 20 years ago. After all her time away from the shelter she believes saved her, she's decided to go back, to try to help others learn that they can live successful lives as well.
Of course, the volunteer coordinator warned her not to play favorites with the girls; that they could take this kindness for granted, and it could be more harmful than helpful. But that doesn't stop Janice. No, she favorites girl after girl as they cycle through the shelter she works as the "Bead Lady" at, until she finally meets 'Sam'. In the days, weeks, and months following her first meeting with Sam, Janice plays the ultimate favorite, to the point where she's ready to become the legal guardian of this troubled girl, who can't seem to catch a break. But as she becomes more and more engrossed in Sam's life, something surfaces to rock it all. And Janice and her friends, Sam's new family, are forever changed by the revelation.
In what reads more like a fiction novel than a memoir, Have You Found Her describes Janice's encounters with 'Sam', proving that truth really can be stranger than fiction. Though the writing itself becomes cyclic at parts as Janice describes her day to day activities with Sam, the emotions described are intense. The twists and turns that Janice goes through will leave you either waiting to give her a firm lecture or comfort her. By the last half of the book, you will be drawn in, eager to find out more about this curious character 'Sam' and Janice's feelings about her.
The end leaves you feeling a little empty, but there isn't any way for this particular story to end happily. Still, through the events in her life during this short period, Janice becomes a stronger woman. This, more than anything, is the true lesson of the memoir... dealing with addiction, whether in the form of drugs, attention, or simply spending a little too much time with someone you shouldn't.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Have You Found Her is a memoir written by Janice Erlbaum, author of Girlbomb. It will be published by Random House Publishing Group on February 12, 2008.
Review by Chelle
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