Twelve-year-old Tony and his mother, Al, get along great. Al works nights as an exotic dancer at the Kitty Kat Club, and together they are a family. When Tony discovers the beauty and power of art, his drawings of dancers at the Kitty Kat Club spark attention from social services. Are they pornographic drawings or artistic sketches? Is Al a responsible mother making money for her family, a skilled storyteller, or a woman simply taking off her clothes? It’s the case of the stripper vs. the state, and Al isn’t giving up Tony without a fight.
Gary Paulsen is the distinguished author of many critically acclaimed books.