false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1256104552m/6136529.jpg 6136529 2 <DIV>At six, Clifton watched as two white police officers beat his black father to death. The official report called it an accident. But Clifton and his mother, who was also there, know the truth.<br><br>Ten years later Clifton's life has been shaped by that horrible event. He's a social outcast, his mother has sunk deep into alcoholism, and the only connection has with a living thing is with the dog next door whose life is as bad as Clifton's. <br><br>But then Clifton's principal comes up with the idea to have all the students release balloons with notes attached. It's meant to build school spirit, but it also gives Clifton an idea. What if, somehow, he was able to reach someone somewhere far away, and actually make a connection? Maybe even have a friend. So instead of balloons he uses bottles, and sets them afloat with notes inside down the New River. <br><br>Amazingly, Clifton actually does here from someone. His name is Swamper, he's got to be at least 70, and he lives in a shack on the river, meaking out a living selling fish. Swamper and Clifton strike up a friendship and it looks like Clifton may be okay after all.<br><br>But then the kidnapping of a young girl that Clifton witnesses brings back all of his old demons. How can he go to the police after what they did to his father? And his mother, she's useless. So he turns to Swamper, and in the end, discovers truths about his family, his life, and himself, that he never would have imagined.</DIV> 6315156 1 6 2009 Gray Baby total:5|5:3|4:1|3:1|2:0|1:0| 5 22 13 2 5 1 false false Thu Jul 30 14:20:09 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 30 14:24:19 -0700 2009
About ten years ago, Clifton Carlson watched as his father was beaten to death by a police officer. The attack was provoked by the fact that Clifton's black father was driving in a car with his white wife. Today's ...more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 31 09:07:31 -0700 2009 Fri Aug 07 13:37:44 -0700 2009 more...]]> 0 0 false false Sat Nov 28 06:51:17 -0800 2009 Sat Nov 28 06:51:17 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Wed Nov 25 16:28:33 -0800 2009 Wed Nov 25 16:28:38 -0800 2009 3 0 false false Tue Nov 24 08:16:11 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 24 08:16:11 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Mon Nov 23 07:46:12 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 23 07:46:12 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Thu Oct 22 05:31:30 -0700 2009 Thu Oct 22 05:31:30 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Thu Oct 15 06:30:45 -0700 2009 Thu Oct 15 06:30:45 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Wed Sep 30 03:01:44 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 30 03:02:21 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sun Sep 20 15:59:02 -0700 2009 Sun Sep 20 15:59:10 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sun Aug 16 16:23:06 -0700 2009 Sun Aug 16 16:23:06 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Wed Jul 08 10:26:32 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 08 10:26:32 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Thu Jun 18 14:15:41 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 18 14:16:28 -0700 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=6136529