Out of the Easy

by Ruta Sepetys

I leapt eagerly into books. The characters’ lives were so much more interesting than the lonely heartbeat of my own.

“Let me tell you something ’bout those rich Uptown folk,” said Cokie. “They got everything that money can buy, their bank accounts are fat, but they ain’t happy. They ain’t ever gone be happy. You know why? They soul broke. And money can’t fix that, no sir.