Friendswood by René Steinke FIC Set

 

The town of Friendswood Texas has always been a rather typical small town.  Neighborhood get-togethers and Friday night football are an important part of life.  But they live near oil and chemicals. It affects most of the people one way or another.  This story follows the lives of four of these families.

It begins with Lee.  She had a wonderful life - until she had to watch her daughter die from cancer.  When the first signs of dangers appeared in their town they moved from their neighborhood to a 'safer' house.  But it was too late.  So for years she has fought to get her community to see the dangers that are still around them.  She sneaks into quarantined areas to get soil samples and bugs the government.  But no one wants to listen,  they want to keep going with their lives and making money.   Hal, a former football star, is trying to keep a floundering real estate business going.  He is more worried about selling a house than about the health of his clients.  The other two main characters are teens.

It is an interesting book with many layers to it.  I will say that I would have liked an ending that wrapped everything up with no questions unanswered.  But I did like the book.