Ever since her brother's death, Dellie's life has been quiet and sad. Her mother cries all the time, and Dellie lives with the horrible guilt that the accident that killed her brother may have been all her fault.
But Dellie's world begins to change when new neighbors move into her housing project building. Suddenly, men are fighting on the stoop and gunfire is sounding off in the night. In the middle of all that trouble is Corey, an abused five-year-old boy, who's often left home alone and hungry. Dellie strikes up a dangerous friendship with this little boy who reminds her so much of her brother. She wonders if she can do for Corey what she couldn't do for her brother—save him.
"What will grab readers in this first novel is realistic sense of the diverse neighborhood community, both rough and caring. With lots of fast, immediate dialouge, the characters' grief, anger, and heartbreaking coming-to-terms are realistic."—Booklist
"Vigilante has a nice way with subplots and solid daily life details that bring the book particular warmth...the story is told with considerable appeal and accessibility, and kids won't have to lead the same life as Dellie to recognize her travails."—BCCB
"Dellie's story will speak to young people who've needed a little faith to get them through tough times. Interesting scenarios, like the cloaked Jamaican woman who moves in next door, provide interest to an already well-developed story."—School Library Journal