Women of four generations are portrayed as 14-year-old Rainbow attempts to find hope and promise in her life. Rainbow’s mother was a child herself when she became a parent. Rainbow’s involvement with other women of differing social and economic classes helps her to figure out who she is with respect to demands on her from a foster parent, a social worker, a boyfriend and others. The syntax of Black English is used skillfully and the characterizations are splendid. (Honor Book: CCBC Straw Newbery Vote) (14 years and older)