After his recapture at the end of Alabama Moon, gutsy 14-year-old Hal Mitchell is sentenced to live at Hellenweiler. The more Hal tries to avoid the gangs and their violence, the more his fellow inmates try to make him fail. n nThe story of of the orphan boy Moon, begun in Watt Keys award-winning Alabama Moon, continues with Dirt Road Home n nAfter his recapture, gutsy 14-year-old Hal Mitchell is sentenced to live at Hellenweiler, an institution that is more like a jail than the boys home its supposed to be. Hal could walk out in just a few months if he keeps out of trouble. But in a place like Hellenweiler, the more he tries to avoid the gangs and their violence, the stronger Hals fellow inmates try to make him fail. This title has Common Core connections. n nKey does a fabulous job of keeping his readers involved in the story and vested in the characters. Even reluctant readers will most likely find this one hard to put down. -- VOYAn