I find these books by Paige Dearth so hard to read but at the same time I feel that it is important that the books ARE read simply because the message is so very important.
Eight year old Joon's life changes suddenly from a secure and very happy childhood to one of utter despair and hardship when her parents die and she is thrust into foster care. There little Joon is exposed to the most horrible abuse that can be imagined. She suffers for years until she finally escapes from the house of horrors to a hard life on the streets. Homelessness on the streets has its own horrors and Joon suffers through more years with the never ending challenge of not having a home or anyone to rely on but herself.
This is the second book I have read by Paige Dearth and I found "Never Be Alone" even harder to read than the first one. I am not sure if it is because the main character is female and I know what it is like to be abused and alone or if the character is more developed. I was not able to put the book down because I had to know what happened next and was so hoping that things would get better for Joon. I was so happy to see the main character from "Mean Little People" (Tony and the gang) show up in this book and now I want to read the first book again.
The writing is very stark, to the point, and heart felt. I hope that more people are willing to give Paige Dearth's books a chance. They are a very hard subject to read about but as I mentioned above, there is a very important message here and children and people we should remember who are going through horrible things as I type this review. The book brings awareness to an important issue that should not be swept under the rug because we are uncomfortable with the subject matter. I really recommend that people have the courage to read these if only to become aware and develop some compassion and understanding.
I want to thank Paige Dearth for having the courage to write about such a heart breaking subject that must hit close to home. I would also like to thank Fiction With Meaning LLC for introducing me to Paige Dearth's books and allowing me to read "Never Be Alone". I received a copy of this book from Fiction With Meaning LLC via Netgalley for free in exchange for my honest review.

Good story although very disturbing and hard to read at times due to the content. I like the idea of getting to know the characters better through other books by the author.

We hear about their plight on a regular basis. We donate old clothes and maybe a few dollars to shelters so “someone” can help them out. They are the unwanted, the abused, the children “lost in the system.” Joon may be the story of one girl, but she is also the story of every child who didn’t ask to live through Hell, alone and ignored like a piece of dirt we sweep under the rug.

NEVER BE ALONE by Paige Dearth is another in her repertoire of nightmares in words. Joon’s life will sucker punch you. Her resilience will astound you.

Think about Joon the next time you look down on the homeless, because not all of them are scammers. Thank about Joon the next time you complain at the cost of that double latte with an extra shot of whipped cream. It could have been you. Think about giving up one latte a week and donating the money and your time to help these kids out. The benefits will be innumerable.

I received a complimentary copy from Fiction With Meaning, LLC

Publisher: Fiction With Meaning LLC; 1 edition (March 30, 2018)
Publication Date: March 30, 2018
Genre: Child Abuse | Horror
Print Length: 414 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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It is not very often that I give a book a full 5 star review, however, this book/author deserves the 5 stars and more if possible.

The subject matter just tears at the heart and screams in your face. Homeless teens. Oh my gosh the emotions that washed over me when reading this eye opening exposure to the life of a homeless teen. Paige made me get attached to Joon - the main character before I even finished the first page! Joon has been through horrors that are hard to imagine for such a young person. The ghastly abuse at the hands of someone that was supposed to care for her is what finally drove her to the streets looking for safety and sanity.

Paige opens our eyes to the plight of the homeless teen by allowing us to follow Joon's life on the streets. We are witnesses to the various homeless groups that Joon meets up with. We learn along with Joon to go with gut feelings, to learn who and who not to trust, and to never lose hope that something better will come along.

Joon has had to make many tough decisions but somehow manages to hold on to hope. Hope that she can make a difference in the world. And she did! She left an awesome mark on my heart. I will never forget this book.

A read that have you walking away with tears in your eyes and understanding in your heart. I think you will never look at homeless people in the same way as you always did.

This type of book is always really tough to review. I understand that some of this is autobiographical in nature, and that makes the story even more heartbreaking, unfortunately that is not enough to make this a five star read. The titular character faces absolutely horrendous treatment at the hands of her foster mother and siblings, and once she leaves that situation, things rapidly go from bad to worse and Joon tumbles into a life of homelessness and poverty and that's just the beginning. I get it, real life is harsh and pulls no punches, and these stories do occur in real life but the way things unfold here just felt very heavy handed, akin to a lifetime special. In addition, all of the characters could have been better developed. My main issue with this book though was the writing itself. The way the author writes is very elementary, meaning that dialogue isn't well done at all, and the author has a tendency to spell out what the characters are thinking or feeling rather than showing it in a more subtle manner. One could argue that this was intentional due to Joon's age, but we spend nearly ten years with Joon, and her voice does not change at all. This story is a powerful one, but it would have packed a much much bigger punch with a little coaching, and some better editing.

Never Be Alone by Paige Dearth
I look forward to every new book by this author. Her stories are backed by elements of “been there, done that” and while they drag up certain unwanted memories from my own early years they also bring forth a range of emotions. Introducing some new characters while bringing back a few from her previous story, this becomes a continuing saga from the streets of the city of not much “Brotherly Love”. A heavy dose of reality sprinkled with a bit of the unlikely gives the reader a view of life for the homeless. Not necessarily the addicted whose misfortunes are self-inflicted but mostly the youthful unfortunates who are the victims of the often-harsh realities and circumstances of life, perhaps a result of addicted parents, maybe just parents who lack the ability to love or maybe parents with an abundance of ability to bully children, knowing the children lack defensive capabilities. While the stories take place in a certain city it could well be any city or town, places where people relax in the comfort of their home, viewing scenes on the nightly news of homeless children suffering the ravages of hunger, in war torn or impoverished countries. If only those people would look out their window at the world close at hand. For those who do not see that which is often in plain sight this book will give a view of the plight of the young homeless lost citizens amongst us. My profound respect for this author.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another emotional roller coaster from Paige Dearth. Honestly, I have never been able to get through one of her books without crying. She is not afraid to write about the worst things that humans can do to one another. But she also shows the kindness and love.

Some parts of the book are a bit unbelievable, but it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of the book.

The only problem I have with this book is that now that I’ve read them all, I’m starting to see a certain formula in the way the books are written. I can guess what’s going to happen based on the fact I’ve read her other books. I still love them and will continue to read them, but I’m not surprised anymore.

An amazing, emotional story! I loved it!
I couldn’t put it down!

It is still hard for me to find the words for this review. This book has made me cry more than any other book I have read recently. Joon went through so much. Then, you think about the fact that so many children have had Joon and Lily's life; it is gut-wrenching. This is not only a story of heartache and child abuse, but it is also the story of love and overcoming everything. It is a great lesson in perseverance and belief in your ability to do anything you set your mind to. The storytelling is impeccable, the timing precise, and a chain of events that will make you love Joon, as I have come to.

We see the homeless, but do we know them or just judge them? This book opened my eyes to their plight. I understand, they didn’t just all of a sudden become homeless. It evolved after helpless and hopeless situations beyond their control. And it’s not always easy to just go get a job. Once again my eyes were opened to prostitution and how young girls are groomed to become a prostitution/slave. They never planned this life for themselves. It is also an evolving process. Paige Dearth created in me a greater compassion and love for the unlovely.

Yes, this subject matter is dark, and in this world there are dark sad situations many people are forced to endure. This is happening everyday and in every city.

Thank you Paige for this enlightening book that evoked great compassion in my heart and soul, for Joon and the people in her life she grew to love and and the ones she lost.

Young Joon’s loving parents died. She went to school one day and was told her parents were gone. She doesn’t even know where they went or where the family’s belongings ended up. There are no relatives to care for her so she is moved in with a cruel and dangerous foster family. Aron, her foster parent seems nice on the outside, but her heart is black. She finds pleasure as she starves, belittles, burns, and punishes Joon with unthinkable cruelty on a daily basis. School isn’t even a refuge as Aron’s older and equally cruel son Deen, watches her every move. If she eats more than three bites of food, Deen tells and punishment is rained down. He even turns the children I. school against this innocent child. As Joon begins to mature, Aron seems even angrier at Joon and Deen plans to have his way with her. After all, “Aron will let me do anything to her that I want.” Join is now 12. When the situation becomes so unbearable, Joon leaves school and joins the world of the homeless.
Sadly, that is her only option. Reader, understand, that is the little girl’s ONLY option. You will understand the direness of her situation when you read. She turns to the streets to escape the viciousness of her foster family and start over. Joon os a broken child.

She is a child wandering the streets of Philadelphia where there are many many groups of homeless. Joon is accepted into a group of homeless teens. It’s hard for this small town girl to imagine so many homeless young people! They should be in a home being loved and nurtured.
Joon is naive and has zero street smarts and things are never what they seem. In this world, there is always a price to pay for safety on the streets.

NEVER BE ALONE is a story of homelessness but hopefulness, as Joon’s relentless determination eventually helps her find her place in the world and make a difference. You will love Joon and want to to be her saviour.

**WARNING**18+ Readers Only.  Graphic content and subject matter.

Another compelling read from the author. She continues in her tradition of not holding back in her narration. I like it that she does not sugarcoat the story or especially the ending. A book I would recommend to all.

This book started off making me so, SO angry! And then it broke my heart. It made me smile and it made me cry.

It hurts, because I feel like this book is just too darn real, and this is a reality for too many young kids and teens. (I have to figure out the stats for my community and see what I can do to help.)

Paige Dearth does a phenomenal job of creating Joon, and making you love her. There is A LOT of heartbreak in this book. But there’s a lot of good too.

I hope you give this book a chance, and I hope it inspires you to make a difference.

This is the first book I read by Paige Dearth and wow , was it intense. This is a story of a young girl that ends up in a foster home and endures more pain than I can even imagine, enough pain that living on the streets is a better option. I don't think I could have gotten through the story if it hadn't of been for how much I liked and was cheering for Joon, the main character and some of the other people she met along the way. Although this is a fiction book, it opened my eyes to the every day struggles that the homeless deal with.

Book contained some peoofreading errors. Chapters were very short; the flow of the story seemed choppy. This didn't seem like too much of a story, but more a "slice of life" that wore at the reader a bit.

I so fell in love with these character. So many good things about this book. Touching, Emotional and a hard subject to cover, actually 2 subjects that were poured out in this book and wonderfully covered.
Would recommend this book




Thanks to the publisher and net galley for an early release of this book

When I ran across this book and seen that Paige Dearth was the author, I knew it was one that I had to read! Although the subject matter is hard to take, I feel it’s a truthful, eye opening look into what it’s like for children who are either living in fostercare or while living homeless on the streets. It depicts the abuse, the heartache and the struggles that so many of our young go through while trying to survive. It was an emotional story for me. I cried through a lot of it because I grew very attached to Joon (main character) and some of her friends. It’s a book that I think everyone could benefit from reading. It’s a story about awareness. I believe it would help to make others feel a little more compassionate and helpful to those not as fortunate as some of us. The world needs more love and understanding. I’d like to thank NetGalley and author Paige Dearth for the opportunity to read it and express my thoughts on it. I think it will definately make me more aware about the way I look at and treat other people.