Jump the Cracks - by Stacy DeKeyser

This was a good story. It's a quick read with a good hook, having a teenage girl become an accidental kidnapper. It brings up the serious issues of childcare and the rights and protections for children.

Victoria leaves her mother at the start of the summer and is on her way to visit her Dad in New York City. She is still bitter about her dad having missed some of her softball games, and some of her highlights during those games.

While on the train, she notices a young woman and her 2-year old boy. The mother doesn't seem to care much about her kid, and Victoria sees bruises on the boy's arms. When the train arrives, Victoria notices the woman gets off the train alone. Concerned, she searches until she finds the boy in the bathroom. By the time she calls her dad to see where he is, the train begins moving, with Victoria and the little boy still on the train.

Victoria soon learns that the mother was meeting someone dangerous, and that he has reported Victoria to the police as a kidnapper. With the more Victoria learns, and the lack of assurances from the police, Victoria keeps the little boy because she fears for him, and wants him to have a safe home where he can trust the adults in his life.

It was a good read, and it ended realistically. I wasn't sure if I liked either Victoria or the baby at first, but once the train pulls away and situation becomes much more serious, both characters become much more likable, as well as more interesting and sympathetic with the more you learn about them. The interesting question is: what would you do? Would you turn the boy in right away knowing he has a bad home life? Or would you keep him to try to hold out for better? I'm not sure what I would do...