Tyrone's Betrayal

"Not again," Tyrone thinks as loud, angry voices wake him up in the middle of the night. Tyrone can tell that his father has had too much to drink. Drinking and fighting are nothing new, but this time, Tyrone's dad leaves and doesn't come back. As the weeks pass, Tyrone's anger at his father's desertion finds an outlet through violent eruptions at school. Life at home is no better as his mother begins working a night job to pay the bills. She expects Tyrone, the eldest, to be the "man of the house," a responsibility Tyrone doesn't want. Instead he starts partying with older kids, skipping school, and sneaking home in the early morning hours. But when his younger brother is caught stealing candy at the corner store, Tyrone realizes that he will have to take on the responsibility whether he wants to or not. Settling in to his new role as the head of the household, Tyrone is furious when he learns that his father wants to come home. He doesn't understand how his mother can forgive his father so easily. And how can she believe his promises to change? With the help of his friends and counselor Dr. Martinez, Tyrone begins to deal with his feelings of anger and betrayal. But will he ever accomplish his dreams of going to college and becoming an engineer? This book is the seventh novel in Gloria Velasquez's popular Roosevelt High School series, which features a multiracial group of teenaged students who must confront social and cultural issues that young adults face today.