"This story about seventeen-year-old Jewels Odom and thirteen other ex-teen prostitutes gives Jewels and her 'sisters' a pulpit from which to speak to other lost girls looking for an escape from what they call the 'streets of hell.' What separates Jewels from her 'street sisters' is her ability to survive and succeed -- actually going to college to return as a teacher at the juvenile hall. This story ends with a mixture of successes and failures, but as always, Jewels is the one who has the final say when she tries to connect with Maya Angelou, the famous poet, to be the graduation speaker"--