THESE ARE NOT THE WORDS

A story set against the humming backdrop of the 1960s New York City jazz scene.

Missy's mother has gone back to school to pursue her dream of becoming an artist. Missy's father works in advertising and takes Missy on secret midnight excursions to Harlem and the Village so she can share his love of jazz. The two write poems for each other -- poems that gradually become an exchange of apologies as Missy's father's alcohol and drug addiction begins to take over their lives. But Missy won't give up on trying to save her family, even though this will involve a hard journey from innocence to action, and finally acceptance.

The events and people of Amanda West Lewis's own childhood lend authenticity to this child-centred story about living with a parent with addiction and mental-health issues. New York City also stands out as a character in the novel, with iconic landmarks from the Chelsea Hotel, Coney Island and Central Park to the jazz bars of Harlem and the Village. The story brings readers back to a time when you didn't need money to live in Manhattan, and a kid might be taught how to hail a cab at the age of four (true story!).