Sketches

A gritty, honest young adult novel about a teen who finds solace in the power of art as she struggles to survive the harsh conditions of street life.

Where do you go when you can’t go home?

After fleeing her suburban home, fifteen-year-old Dana struggles to survive in the alleys, squats, and subway stations of downtown Toronto. Dana and her two friends, seasoned street kids Brent and Ashley, must contend with turf wars, thugs, hunger, and the daily battle of life on the streets. When Dana’s graffiti on an underpass catches the eye of a counsellor at Sketches, a drop-in center for homeless teens, Dana discovers a haven where she can express herself through art. As she works on a self-portrait, Dana begins to confront the reason she left home. The truth of what her stepfather did to her is trying to surface, but will it come out through her paintbrush or the blade of a knife?