Title: Claiming Grace
Summery:The first rule of social work- don't get emotionally involved. When you work with foster care kids, the abandoned and the abused, it's impossible not to care. It's a fine line between caring and burnout, between loving the children and risking heartbreak. Amanda's been walking the line for six years now. She runs Hastings House, a group home for teenage girl. She prides herself on making life for her girls as normal as possible, with family dinners, birthday parties, chores and trips to the movies. But she's not their mom. They arrive with little notice and can leave just as quickly. Some she will hear from again, some will disappear into the system or fall into the cracks. Amanda worries about them, but when she goes home at night she takes a deep breath, takes a bubble bath, calls a friend. She makes sure to live her own life.
And then she meets Grace. Grace who looks younger than her age because of malnourishment but older when you look into her eyes. Grace, so hungry for affection that a single touch makes her face light up. Grace, who follows Amanda around retreats into herself when Amanda is not there.
Amanda breaks the first rule. She falls for Grace She lets the girl become more important than the others, doesn't correct her when she says 'mom' instead of Amanda. She is not prepared for the day Grace leaves.
Setting: Mainly the foster care home (I'm not in love with the name Hastings, suggestions welcomed) and Amanda's house. Also misc. places like the courthouse, school, grocery store, etc. Somewhere in California (because I am lazy and I already know the rules and laws for foster care here)
Characters:
Amanda (still needs a last name) is 31, single (but flirting with a police officer she met when one of her kids ran away), has a BA in English and a Masters in Social Work. Grew up in Boston but moved to Cali for grad school and interned at Hastings House. Stayed after she graduated and now runs the home. She has a brother, mom and dad, all still in Mass.
Grace (needs a middle name) Santiago is 12. Her father is from Costa Rica. She lived with her mother and step father until the start of the story when she is taken from her home after a neighbor called social services to report abuse and neglect. Her father is an imigrant worker with no permanent address. She looks younger than her age due to malnourishment. She's very behind in school.
Other characters- various workers at the group home. An assortment of other girls who live in the home (a few who are there for the whole time, others who come and then leave) Jason, a police officer who flirts with Amanda. Amanda's family (mostly only through phone calls)
That's the basics. Suggestions for names (I have to name all the minor characters, in addition to the things above that I've mentioned needing help on) are appriciated. Any questions asked will help me flush out the plot.
Also, I can't figure out how to add buddies at the site, unless I have a direct link to their profile. If anyone wants mine, it's here:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/user/125574
