It's been decided: Children's fiction has been treading the safe territory of witches, wizards and magic for far too long. John Singleton's gritty novel, "Skinny B, Skaz and Me," has no time for fiction of that ilk. Not when life, real life, can be so much more visceral.
Twelve-year-old Lee's father works odd hours driving a taxi. His mother invests all her emotional energy in his younger sister, Skinny B, who has been sick, "all stick and no stuffing" for as far back as he can remember. He's got the hots for Alison Libidowicz, but so far it's "all drool and dreams." His best friend Jigger has been acting strange ever since he discovered his mother is on dope. And now, Skaz, the coolest boy in school, wants to be his mate, well, sort of.