Pull [Hardcover]

David Albacore is a young man forced to grow up too fast. He's a high school senior and he also has an after-school job in construction. He feels responsible for his sisters' material and emotional needs since his mother died and he's more like a parent to them than an older brother. When David's mother was alive she made him promise to get a high school diploma. With so much going on in his life, will he make it to graduation?

I liked David. He was wise beyond his years and a decent guy. I felt bad for him whenever he blamed himself for things that weren't his fault. And the way he longed for his mother to still be around saddened me. I liked that he was sensitive to females needs and I'm sure that was because of what he experienced with his mom and sisters. He did remind me of a playa -something he said he used to be- for a moment there, but then the David I liked was back again. And I understood why David would question God about what happened to his mother, but here's the thing: There is God and there is also Satan. Satan is the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy and his voice is the one David's dad was listening to when he killed David's mother. The author clearly shows the emotional damage that comes from losing a loved one to domestic violence and I hurt for David and his sisters, Barnetta (Barney) and Linda.

David's sister, Barney, was looking for someone to make her important and she thought she'd find that in a guy, but what she needed was a true friend. I was concerned for her when she started hanging with the wrong group of students. Her brother had her back, though, which was admirable. But the game she and David were playing; there was something too weird about that.

Malik Kaplan wasn't a likeable character at all. He's the kind of guy girls need to stay away from... far away. And Yolanda Dare: Her choice of friends wasn't the best, but she had more common sense than anyone would think. It's respect for herself that she was lacking. Even though she was strong enough to speak her mind she didn't seem to care enough about herself to not allow Malik to use her. She also had very little confidence in her creative abilities and that was a shame, because she was talented. I know she was the way she was because of her past and what happened to her was also a shame; I was sorry for all the pain she suffered. When I think of this character I think of how appearances can be deceiving and I don't mean in a bad way.

David had his reasons for taking The Sociology of Marriage and Family class and, again, I felt for him. I liked the assignment the teacher, Mr. Martin, gave David and Yolanda to work on together. And I really liked something Mr. Martin said to the class: "You guys keep wanting to grow up too soon. Slow down, be glad you live in a time and place where you're allowed to still be young. Adulthood will catch up to you soon enough."

B.A. Binns wrote an interesting story that made me shake my head with disbelief at some of the things certain teen characters chose to do; the main thing being the mention of a threesome. It was disappointing to even think something like that is happening with teenagers today; I was glad there were no vivid details. The story did get me to laugh a bit, but it would have been more entertaining for me if there hadn't been so much profanity. I was surprised that David used profanity as much as he did. He was a responsible, intelligent young man; certainly smart enough to express himself without using vulgar words. And I was surprised and disappointed when Coach Kasili used profanity while speaking to David. Does that happen in the real world? If members of school faculty are cussing when they talk to students, they shouldn't be. Thinking about quite a bit of the dialogue: Pull is too gritty for my taste, but once I started the story I wanted to finish because I liked David and I had to know how things turned out for him. I'm not sure how I feel about the choice he made in the end.

The greatest books invite us to become their main characters, experiencing their emotional and physical conflicts, suffering their defeats, and cheering for their triumphs. Pull, the brilliant debut novel by B. A. Binns, is just such a book.

Pull is populated with fully-realized inner city characters who are not stereotypes. While acknowledging the milieu of "dead-heads, thugs and wannabe" gangsta clowns, Pull's characters defy expectation and avoid cliche. These are smart, thinking kids, who are well aware of their limitations as they struggle to make a place for themselves in the high school status quo.

From page one we're launched into the precarious new life of David Albacore, who is running from a past that haunts him but is inescapable. As David struggles to take care of siblings orphaned by a father he despises, he finds himself unable to overcome the very same passions that drove that man to murder. And Binns perfectly captures the amped-up sexual angst of every teenage boy, as David is smitten by Yolanda, the hottest girl in the "in" crowd -- a group he's sworn to avoid.

When Yolando and David finally come together, sparks fly. But Yolanda means big trouble, because she's pack leader Malik's girl, and Malik has it out for David, not only as a romantic rival, but also on the basketball court and -- most importantly -- as a threat to David's little sister.

Pull builds to an exciting climax, as David finds all of his problems converging, leaving him wondering what price he is willing to pay, and what it means to let go. Pull is a great read that will appeal to a wide variety of readers, because it's about real people solving real problems, with love and compassion.

David Albacore is burdened with extreme guilt caused the night his mother was murdered by his father. He's been uprooted, is living with his aunt and sisters and starting senior year in a new city. I was pulling for David as he tried to keep his sister, Barney, out of harm's way at school and struggled to contribute financially to the household. David recognized the signs of domestic violence among his peers at school and my heart pounded when he stepped up to confront his nemesis. B.A. Binns illuminates the troubling topic of teen dating violence through David's wonderful character. I think the gritty street language will hook young guy readers. An important book for any teen in an abusive dating relationship.