The Last Chance Texaco

by Brent Hartinger

The guy looked at me with a stare that would have frozen antifreeze.

"You the new groupie, huh?"

"Yeah," I said. "So?"

"So no one wants you here. Why don't you go back where you came from?"

I can't go back, I wanted to say. That was the thing about living in a group home. There was nowhere for me to go but forward.

Brent Hartinger's second novel, a portrait of a subculture of teenagers that many people would like to forget, is as powerful and provocative as his first book, Geography Club.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Teen, Fostering, LGBT

Unknown Binding

First published February 17, 2004

About the author

I am Brent Hartinger, a novelist and screenwriter. I’ve published fourteen novels and had two of my books turned into feature films — with several more movies still in the works. One of my movies even co-starred SUPERMAN's David Corenswet.

I try hard to write books that are page-turners and commercial (and movies that are fast-paced and accessible). If I had to describe my own writing projects, I would say, “Strong central concept, strong plot, strong character and voice. Not artsy, self-indulgent, or pretentious, but still thoughtful and smart with something to say.”

I mostly write YA books — LGBTQ and thrillers, sometimes LGBTQ thrillers. My first novel, GEOGRAPHY CLUB (2003) was one of the first in a new wave of break-out LGBTQ young adult fiction, and it was adapted as a feature film in 2013.

My latest book is INFINITE DRIFT (2025), a mind-bending YA supernatural thriller with a bonkers bisexual love triangle.

Here are all my books:

STANDALONE BOOKS
* Infinite Drift
* Project Pay Day
* Three Truths and a Lie
* Grand & Humble
* Shadow Walkers

THE OTTO DIGMORE SERIES
* The Otto Digmore Difference (book 1)
* The Otto Digmore Decision (book 2)

RUSSEL MIDDLEBROOK: THE FUTON YEARS
* The Thing I Didn't Know I Didn't Know (book #1)
* Barefoot in the City of Broken Dreams (book #2)
* The Road to Amazing (book #3)

THE RUSSEL MIDDLEBROOK SERIES
* Geography Club (book #1)
* The Order of the Poison Oak (book #2)
* Double Feature: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies (book #3)
* The Elephant of Surprise (book #4)

I answer all questions, so feel free to contact me on social media, or through my website: BrentHartinger.com

Cheers!

Brent Hartinger

Reviews

[Sean Kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love Hartinger's work, but this started off as quite a good bit of social realism and halfway through turned into an OTT Nancy Drew adventure with an overly sappy ending that seemed at contrast with the rest of the book.

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twist totally blew me away.

[Jaime Titus · Rating 4 out of 5]

You've been going from house to house your whole life. You don't have a place to call your own, and you don't have any family to call yours anymore. This is the life of Lucy, a 15 year old girl who has lost both of her parents in a car accident when she was seven. Being in the foster care system for 8 years now, Lucy has been to just about every foster home there is. Her final chance to make it through a home without getting kicked out is at Kindle Home, also known as "Last Chance Texaco" due to it being the last home before ending up in Rabbit Island. This island is a high-security juvenile detention center also known as "Eat-Their-Young" Island to the foster children because of the reputation the island has.
Taking place in modern day times, this book portrays Lucy struggling to make it through this home without getting kicked out. This is the first home she's ever been in that she actually starts caring about the home itself and the people within it. Along the way, Lucy is starting realize that she can't keep pushing people away until someone starts setting cars in their neighborhood on fire in order to shut the house down. Who's starting these fires? Why are they doing this? Do they set the house on fire? I guess you will have to chance your way into reading this book in order to find out.
Throughout the book, Lucy must learn to trust others in order to solve a problem. Sometimes in life, we may not be used to depending on others. However, in times of trouble is when we need others the most. This is a relevant theme throughout the book because even though Lucy is not used to depending on others, she must learn to do so.
I wanted to read this book because it seemed very interesting when I read the inside cover. The cover did not disappoint me. This book reminds me of my life because like Lucy, I sometimes think I can make it through life alone. However, I think with this book we have both learned that that's not possible.
I think this book would be a great one to teenagers who are really struggling with depending on others. However, I also believe it will be a great book to anyone who wants to see a real life setting of a foster child.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread from grade 5. I thought this book was SCANDALOUS when I read it back then because they said the F word twice and kissing was involved. That's what I get for reading my sister's books LOL (I took The Last Chance Texaco from my sister's bookshelf not knowing what's it about). I was reorganizing my book shelf yesterday (i took this book upon my own bookshelf) and came across this book again and I decided to read a few pages but I ended up reading the whole book.

I honestly didn't even understand what the heck was going in this book back then. I was just baffled they used the F word. Haaahaaaha. I was fairly innocent back then. This time, I actually enjoyed it a lot more. There were some things I remembered, but mostly it was a fresh take on the book. Let me just say, I love Leon. Back then, I don't think I batted an eyelash at him. Man, Leon is so great. If I ever write fan fiction, I'm gonna write it about Lucy and Leon.

Overall, I did find some minor plot holes and there not enough relationship development between Lucy and Nate, but I enjoyed it, since it was a quick read and took my mind off things *ahem school ahem*. I loved the foster/group home setting, and it gave me many feels because Leon (is so great) cared so much about (Lucy) the kids.

[Jaemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy has spent her whole life in the System. Losing her parents at an early age took its toll, and an angry girl can wreack much havoc…especially upon herself. So when she winds up at Kindle Home, what the kids in the system consider the last chance before the dire move to Rabbit Island, from which most don’t return, she figures her time is short.

When she starts off at her new school by inadvertently pissing off a couple of the local rich kids, then follows it up by getting into a fist fight with one of them, she knows she’s on thin ice. But Leon, who is unlike any other Group Home Counselor she’s met, won’t give up on her, and won’t let her give up on herself.

When her punishment for fighting brings about an unexpected friendship between herself and the boy she punched, she really starts to rethink her outlook. But just when she starts to find a reason to hold on, someone else starts trying to get Kindle Home shut down. Can she save her home, her friends, and her new life? Or will her stay at the Last Chance Texaco be what she expected all along?

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Brent has written a book that tugs at the heartstrings and places social issues at the forefront. It is impossible to read this without gaining knowledge of the absurd decisions made by some in the area of children's social services. The mystery is intense as are the feelings of the main character.

A wonderful book!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing wasn't very good and the story seemed to just drag on about nothing important. I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it either. It was just "ok" at best. Read it since it was on my Kindle from a free download from Amazon.

[Callie Stonecipher · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the start, I was hooked, and every detail left me excited to find out more. The twist at the end was so unexpected, but also perfectly explainable. Such an interesting view you don’t normally hear about!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that was on my shelf for years, I needed some distraction so I picked it up. It was pretty good. Lots of teen themes here—fitting in, pecking order, trust (in both peers and adults), romance, mystery.
A good quick read for older teens.

[Karime AV · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book in 2 days! So good, bit of mystery but kind of wholesome also. It’s a book about a teenager who is in the foster system going to the last chance group home before a jail type locked facility. I got it out of one of those take one leave one libraries on the street!

[Sharon N · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story enlightened me to the lives of kids in a group home. It was a decent book. I don’t not recommend it. I think I heard it compared to The Outsiders so I expected it to be as good.
I give it 🚮🚮🚮

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, it’s a story of a 15 year old Lucy who’s moved from foster home to foster home her entire life, and this is her last chance. The book was good and I liked the twist, but the ending was very predictable and boring imo

[Beagle Lover (Avid Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.50 stars

Read this book years ago...cannot review it properly. I am going on what I remember for my rating.

[Suzanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

NHS Summer Reading: Ok plot. Trust themes.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written for teens but has a few lessons for all of us...Don't just a book by it's cover, Do Unto Others, and Be kind to everyone because you never know what they are going through.

[Sharon E T Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy's story is real.

Lucy's story is real and keeps the reader involved from page one. However, the numerous typos are very distracting, and do a disservice to the author.

[Audrey Jalving · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is well written and has a good plot.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Loved the voice of this story. The end got a little unbelievable, but the main character was 100 percent misunderstood and lovable.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started off pretty good, but went downhill super fast.

[juliana]

has a super cool plot twist

[juliana]

has a super cool plot twist

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

YA. Fiction. Foster home care. Orphans . Adolescence. Mystery.

[Irene Garcia Lanaspa · Rating 5 out of 5]

El libro cuenta la historia de Lucy una chica que a lo largo de su vida va pasando por diferentes centros de menores, nos cuenta su perspectiva de la vida y como ciertas circunstancias van hacerle tomar decisiones que afectan directamente a su futuro.
Una trama interesante y con muchos momentos de acción en la historia. Es un libro que yo recomiendo a un público más juvenil de unos 12 - 14 años más o menos, sin embargo es una historia que merece ser leída y resultara interesante sea cual sea tu edad.

Este libro me lo leería cuando tenía unos 12 años y fue el libro que me engancho a leer y me metió en el mundo de la lectura, es un libro que desde entonces he releído en muchas ocasiones y que me encantó de principio a fin por este cúmulo de razones le doy 5 estrellas.

[Tawny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Brent Hartinger
Title: The Last Chance Texaco
Genre: romance, mystery, coming-of-age novel
Publication Info: Harper Collins. New York. 2004.
Recommended Age: 12 and older

Plot Summary: Lucy is a 15-year-old girl who lost her family to a car accident when she was only seven years old. Ever since then, she has been passed around to foster parents and group homes. She eventually ends up at Kindle Home, a run-down mansion in an upscale neighborhood. This is her last chance at a semi-normal life. If she makes any errors, she will be sent to a high-security punishment center called “Eat-Their-Young Island.” For a while she thinks this is inevitable, but she begins to really like Kindle Home, where the counselors are dedicated to the kids. Realizing that this is the closest place to a home that she has ever had, Lucy fights for the right to stay there. The only things that may get in her way are lack of funding, the threatening and deceiving alpha female, and the mysterious arsonist who is causing the neighbors to complain about the inhabitants of the home. Throughout her stay, Lucy comes to recognize her behavioral problems. With the help of the counselors and her new boyfriend, she is able to overcome her anger problems, find the arsonist, avoid “Eat-Their-Young Island,” and get placed in a nearby foster home with parents who would like to adopt her.

Personal Notes: The romance and mystery probably entice less sophisticated readers. The rest of the story is exceptional because it takes us inside a system most of us are not familiar with. I think this is a good book for students to read on an individual basis as it shows that no matter what the circumstance, kids all have similar concerns and should be treated equally. If anything, kids who have lost their families and gone through emotional trauma need more friends and should be given more attention and more chances.

Evaluation: I’ve never read a book quite like this one. I feel like it really gave me a glimpse into the life of group home kids. I have some friends who currently work at a girl’s group home, and I was able to draw a lot of connections between the novel and their experiences. This story seems to be quite realistic, especially with the bitterness and meltdowns some of the youth experience. Hartinger apparently worked at a group home up in Bellingham, Washington, which is not too far from my own hometown.

Other Comments: This book is a nominee for the Beehive Book Award, and I think it has an excellent chance of winning. Aside from the bad language used by some of the characters, the book is surprisingly clean. I would want my own children to read it so that they could see how hard life can be for some kids, and that you should never make assumptions about people by the way they act.

[Jennifer Wardrip]

Reviewed by Mark Frye, author and reviewer for TeensReadToo.com

Brent Hartinger has crafted a touching and suspenseful novel sure to capture and hold any teen reader's attention. He knows his craft well, having created an edgy novel about the foster care system with a tasteful, deft touch, ensuring it a wide readership. He has proven that tough issues and hard situations teens face can be portrayed with minimal violence and profanity.

Like his earlier novel, GEOGRAPHY CLUB, Hartinger has crafted several sympathetic characters among a microcosm of society's misfits. This novel's group of excluded teens are orphans, kids whose perception of themselves is nearly as negative as their peers at school, who deride them as "groupies" (foster children in group homes). The reader is drawn into their conflicts, both within their own walls, their own psyches, and with society-at-large.

The narrator, Lucy, has been a foster child for over half of her life. Kindle Home is the last, "safe" stop for teens like her, for those who have been in trouble. Children who "wash out" of Kindle Home are then sent to Rabbit Island, a place for teens beyond redemption--in the eyes of the system, at least. As a veteran of group homes, she vows to make an effort to fit in at Kindle, which proves to be difficult. Newcomers are viewed as a challenge of the "pecking order" and it isn't long before Lucy is facing serious challenges from others in the home.

Her school environment presents another challenge when she is caught in a social caste disagreement with two of her peers. In spite of the odds against them, she makes a friend from one of her earlier antagonists, a person who proves to be a crucial ally when Kindle Home faces community persecution and budget cuts. As the new friends try to find out who has been setting fires in the neighborhood in order to frame the members of Kindle Home, Hartinger provides an unexpected twist when he unveils the perpetrator.

With a heart-warming ending, Hartinger proves that edgy young adult fiction can still leave a reader with hope. THE LAST CHANCE TEXACO is suitable even for middle school-aged students. Recommended.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy has been in the foster care system for eight years, since she was seven. She's a pro at the unfair politics, bullies, and adult BS of group home living, as well as a pro at fighting and getting addicted to oxycontin. She knows very well that Kindle Home is her last chance before she's essentially incarcerated on 'Eat-Their-Young Island' (not its real name), where the incorrigible delinquents are sent, but she's pretty much accepted that that's where she'll be very soon. At first, Kindle seems the same as her other group homes, with the meltdowns and the bullies and the therapist who barely conceals his hatred, as well as the school with kids who wish anyone from a group home would just go back where they came from--and don't hesitate to say so, at every opportunity. But not everything is the same, and gradually Lucy finds she kind of wants to stay at Kindle--just when things start happening that will make it impossible for any of them to stay.

I read this because I like Hartinger's writing, even if this is not a genre I care for (I don't like depressing books). For the most part, it was good, and much of it rang true--the group home experience, particularly. Some of it I didn't quite buy, though. I thought Lucy caved too quickly, both to Kindle and to the boy at school she initially loathed (the feeling was mutual). Both thawings were possible, but I think it would take months rather than days. Much as I hate to say it (because I loathed this next book), the Great Gilly Hopkins did it better; Gilly was just more believable, because she didn't thaw so quickly and immediately.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I've mentioned previously, I love me some Brent Hartinger. So it surprised me when Ben pointed out that there is one that I haven't read. Egads! So I proceeded directly to the Devil's Den and ordered a copy. In hardcover. Because that's how I read my Hartinger.

The Last Chance Texaco is a novel about kids in a group home named Kindle House, nicknamed Last Chance Texaco. This is the last stop for troubled kids in The System before they get sent off to juvenile detention at Rabbit Island, a.k.a. Eat-Their-Young Island.

The story itself follows Lucy. Her cynicism is palpable. She's been in the system long enough to become jaded and fully embittered. This leads her to mistrust the counselors and despise the house therapist. And she lashes out at the privileged in her high school.

However, this book is touching because it shows Lucy grow as she realizes everyone is not out to get her. True, some people are, but many aren't. She learns that there are people she can trust and that she can open her heart to let others in. And I think that message of hope makes the book worth it.

Of Hartinger's titles, I think this one is likely his weakest. The mystery itself had too many red herrings and not enough clues, making the criminal a complete surprise. I felt the ending wrapped up far too quickly and rushed, which is saying something considering that I like my denouement snappy.

Still. Read The Last Chance Texaco and Hartinger's other titles. It's good reading.

[Ruhama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy has been moved to the last stop before the equivalent of jail— she’s at the Kindle Home, a group home that takes care of kids without families. The counselors and house parents here give the teens who live here one more chance to shape up before they are sent to a high security facility. Lucy’s been shuttled around from group home to group home ever since her parents died, and she’s sure this house won’t survive her as well. But then she meets Leon, one of the counselors, and finds that life isn’t quite the same at the Kindle House. She finds she actually wants to stay, even though another member of the home has tried to make her life miserable, both at the home and at school. But can she manage to keep her temper and convince the resident psychiatrist that she’s worthy of the home?

This is a fast paced novel, with plenty of action, a little romance and a lot of unusual teen struggles. Hartinger has given a great glimpse into the group home life, and he is well qualified, as he used to be a counselor at a group home. Lucy’s character is likable, even though she is quite prickly, and anyone with prejudices will find themselves challenged to look a little deeper at group home kids and teens. The only things that bothered me was her change was very quick, which didn’t feel believable, and some of the plot line felt a little contrived. Note: there is harsh language, but it fits with the story.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the book "Last Chance Texaco". It is a short novel, but packed full of emotion and events that kept me on the edge of my seat. The character selection for this book made it come to life. Lucy, the main character, instantly drew me in. She is an orphan who has been in the system for more than half of her life. After being tossed around from home to home, she now finds herself at a group home. Another influential character in the story is Nate. He enters the book as a bully to Lucy, calling her a "groupie" since she lives in a group home. As the book goes on, he becomes Lucy's loving and caring boyfriend. The characters show how some people are in group homes and also how the people around them perceive them. The structure of the plot was genius. Every scene of the book was thrilling and would not let me put the book down because i wanted to know what happened next. For example. one scene is her in detention picking up trash with the boy she recently had a fight with. The following scene was the the two of them kissing with trash surrounding them. The book had one twist after another that just made it exciting. Books with exciting plots are the best books because you don't get with it nor lose interest after the first chapters. I would recommend this book to teens or adults who want to learn how it feels to be in foster care and what they have to go through. This is a quick and easy read that will leave you wondering.

[Starry · Rating 5 out of 5]

My librarian asked me to read this book to find out if it should be marked "Eighth graders only". And I say it should.

Basically it's about this girl named Lucy, who's been an orphan since she was seven when her parents died in a car crash. Well, she's fifteen now and seen more than her share of group homes. Finally she's reached it: The last stop before you're shipped off to Rabbit Island, known amoung the group-home-kids as Eat-Thier-Young Island. It's her last chance; One more screwup and she's shipped away.
So she arrives at the group home and all, meets her new roomate Yolanda and becomes pretty good friends with her.
Everything's going pretty good until her first day at the new school, where a girl accidently hits her and drops all her books and the fact that nobody wants her there. The next day, the girl that she ran into and her boyfriend were in his biography class. He says something relating to hermit crabs and how they always stole other animals homes. She's instantly furious, knowing perfectly well as every other person did that he was reffering to her. So she slugs him and starts a fist fight. It takes almost six kids to break them apart.
And someone's setting fires. When it's blamed on the group home, and it's being threatened to be shut down, what will happen?