Submerged vehicles morph into artificial reefs over time, havens for aquatic wildlife. The client is Hank Jordan, a businessman interested in exploring a pair of military tanks Julie's father towed out to sea a while ago and let sink a hundred feet below the surface. Her father is a seasoned divemaster and has taught Julie much of what he knows, but he isn't feeling well today, and that's no good for diving. Twelve-year-old Julie Sims has an ominous feeling the day she and her father, who runs a dive shop, take a client out on the waters off the coast of Gulf Shores, Alabama. This one is a definite buy, it would make a great gift.High-octane thrillers are rare in juvenile literature, but Watt Key has a reputation as a transcendent novelist, and he uses his talent for all it's worth in Deep Water. I would recommend this book to teen boys ages 13 to 17. The author does a wonderful job of showing courage through Hal’s attempt to put his life back together. My favorite part is how the boys worked together to fight against a corrupt system. The story brought light to the failures and the lack of rehabilitation efforts in the boys’ home. It grabs your attention immediately and keeps it to the end. The Dirt Road Home is very interesting and thought-provoking. Hal's father helps him get a job to get himself on his feet. In the end, Hal is reunited with his father, and he and his father help Caboose who, upon being released from the Boys' Home, has no family and no place to stay. His lawyer contacts the authorities who come to the facility, arrest the staff, and take them into custody. With help from Paco and Caboose, an ex-gang member, he retrieves medical records and sends them to his lawyer.

When Hal finds out that he won’t be released because of a conduct report, he hatches a plan to expose the corruption. Not only are they falsifying medical reports, they are doing the same thing with conduct reports. With insight from Paco, Hal learns that the superintendent and his staff are corrupt, allow the fights to happen, and are keeping the boys from getting proper medical attention. He learns from Paco that dealing with gang retribution is not his biggest problem. Now he's a target, but he becomes friendly with Paco, one of the gang leaders. Hal just wants to get back to a normal life with his father and girlfriend, so he decides not to join a gang. There are two gangs at the juvenile home and all new arrivals either join the gang or are gang targets. Hal and his father have good intentions, but for Hal, staying out of trouble isn't going to be as easy as he thought. His father must also prove he can stop drinking in order for Hal to return home.

Hal (14) has been sent to the Hellenweiler Boys’ Home where he will stay until he can prove he can stay out of trouble.

Diverse Easy Reader | Illustrated Chapter.

Dirt road home by watt key