Tin Angel

By Shannon Cowan

Ronalda Page has lead an idyllic life, growing up surrounded by nature at her family's mountain lodge, the Raven's. When her father is killed in an accident, Ronnie's mother is forced to sell the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1897073682
• ISBN13: 9781897073681
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Lobster Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 0.8" x 5.5"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Poignant tale, but beware of hidden moral

At the age of fourteen, Ronalda Page was arrested for the murder of Louis Moss, an old friend of her mother's who had supported their family after the death of Ronalda's father. In three separate parts, Ronnie takes us back through the events that led her to this point, where she has been vilified for killing one of the town's most respectable citizens. Raven's, an internationally renowned lodge high up in the Coastal Mountains of British Columbia, has been in Ronnie's family for generations, but even that can't save them from the shortage of funds to keep the place running. Despite the efforts of Ronnie's father, all of their hopes collapse when he's killed in an automobile accident, on his way to meet with a possible investor. Devastated, Ronnie's family collapses as well. Now left with few options, they sell the lodge to Louis Moss, who in turn puts them up in a suburban home in town and provides a job for Ronnie's mother. While her mother drowns herself in alcohol and her older sister grows distant (and a bit too familiar with Louis), Ronalda struggles with her adjustment to attending school, getting along with her peers, and finding enough food in the cupboard to eat. As all of these things begin to elude her, she manages to finally find a friend in a young man who would prefer that questions not be asked. When his life and freedom come under danger, Ronnie's efforts to help him take her back to Raven's, and the horrifying night of confrontation that will change her life permanently. The main part of this story appears to be in the third section, where Ronalda faces her detainment, questioning, and subsequent trial. While I'd been invested in Ronnie's story up until this point, I felt that the lesson obviously being taught about Canada's treatment of criminal minors detracted from Ronnie's tale somewhat. That aside, I found this book to be a well-written, poignant story with a few twists, and definitely worth the read.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Ronalda Page, aka Ronnie, has had the perfect childhood. She lives at a mountain resort on the west coast of Canada. She has a loving mom, a beautiful older sister, and a doting father. She loves her life. Then, after her thirteenth summer, tragedy strikes and her father is taken from them. In order to survive, they must sell the resort to Louis Moss, an old family friend who Ronnie doesn't trust. They then move to a small town near them and try to adjust to the loss of their father and husband. Ronnie's mother becomes an alcoholic, and her sister takes up with Louis. Ronnie feels alone and not wanted. She is malnourished and ignored. Then, on a fateful night, Louis Moss is killed and Ronnie is framed by the local police for the murder and is tried as an adult. The treatment of Ronnie by the police is brutal and is the most interesting part of the story. I felt that Ronnie simply reacted to the events of her life and never fought. Even when she goes on trial, she just lets things happen to her. She never lets authorities know what a hell she is living in and never trusts anyone to help her. During part of the story she is set up by a girl that she doesn't really like to let a boy make out with her and thinks that this is wrong but doesn't stop him. I mean, she is told to go behind the gym after school and she does, even though she knows what will happen, She doesn't like that her mother is not there, but she doesn't even try to make life livable. I had a hard time thinking that she didn't know how to cook when she was adept at living on her own in the mountains. Even with these problems, though, it is a story which will make you think and be thankful for the wonderful legal system we have now. Reviewed by: Marta Morrison