The Life of Payne By Shelia E. Bell

Book Description...

"Fifteen-year-old freshman, Payden Lamar Washington, who everyone calls Payne, attends Fairley High School. Unlike most teenagers, Payne anxiously looks forward to getting up and going to school every day. It is his only getaway from a mother addicted to drugs, five brothers and sisters, one of whom is mentally challenged, and a life that he wishes was just a nightmare that he could wake up from. School, his love of art, and music, plus his girlfriend, Marissa Johnson, are the only means of escape he seems to find. But even in that, there are times when love, happiness and normalcy of a teenager elude him no matter what he does, or where he tries to escape. What will it take for things to change for him and his brothers and sisters? Will God answer his prayer and let him have a normal life, or will he always be destined to live a life of pain?"

Title:  The Life of Payne
Author:  Shelia E.Bell
Publisher:  Bonita and Hodge Publishing Group, Inc.
Series:  Book 2 Fairly High Series
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating:  Four
Review:

"The Life of Payne" by Shelia E. Bell

My Thoughts......

"The Life of Payne" was really one read that was indeed not sweet.  Payden [Payne] was one fifteen year old freshman that had had been treated so horrible by his own mother.  With his mother being so
mentally messed up with drugs and the way she treated all of her children especially Payne...all I can say is what a story this author gives the reader.  Thank God Payne had two friends Stunna and Marissa who seemed to be their for him if nothing else just to listen.  I must say that Payne's aunt and uncle were also their for Payne's brothers and sisters.  I do have some mixed feeling for this story because I don't think Payne's mom ever learned from this horrible situation.  Now, I don't want to tell
to much more of this story.  I will say that I was glad that in the end it seemed like the children would be truly taken care of.  Hopefully, Payne who really knew pain in his life would be able to listen to the advice of his uncle and not let all of past life affect him.  "Will God answer Payne's prayer and let him have a normal life, or will he always be destined to live a life of pain?" Well. I guess we can only pray that it will happen for these children.  This is one of those reads that will be with you long after the read.  I was definitely left shaking my head and saying wow what a read.