Their documentary playĪftermath, based on interviews with Iraqi civilian refugees in Jordan, ran Off Broadway at NYTW, was a The Exonerated, was published by Simon and Schuster. Living Justice, Jessica and Erik's book on the making of The Exonerated has been translated into Spanish, French, Italian, Farsi, Mandarin, and Japanese and adapted by Jessica and Erik into an award-winning TV movie. The Exonerated, a play based on interviews they conducted with over 40 death row exonerees (Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Ovation, Fringe First, Herald Angel Awards). Many are hoping for a better life from the one they knew, only to find that there are different problems that they will face, such as homelessness, hunger, and poverty.Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen are a multihyphenate writing team who The New Yorker calls 'among the foremost practitioners of documentary theater in the U.S.' Together, they are authors of Told through the eyes of each of the characters, the reader is left with a new awareness of the realities that can cause young adults to run away from home and family. With stringy hair, bad teeth, and empty eyes, Tracy has seen far too much for her young age.Īlong with these four and three others, the rough, harsh life of runaways and throwaways is written in a bleak style in ALMOST HOME. Tracy is the weak thread that intertwines through all their lives yet has an unknown quality that captivates everyone. Critter tries to protect her from the seedier side of life on the street - drugs and pimps. She adores him and follows him around like a baby bird. But it's been over a month and Jim isn't returning his calls and he's running out of money and options fast.Ĭritter is a drug dealer who has also taken Eeyore under his wing. They were found out and Jim told Rusty to go to Hollywood and he would meet him there once he ties up all the loose ends at home. Rusty is in love with his male teacher, Jim. Eeyore is not only running from the humiliation of school, but from a horrible home secret that no one would believe. After an embarrassing encounter at school, street smart Tracy takes her under her wing, and Elly runs away from home. Seven individual paths are interwoven with each other, showing that you can touch more lives than you realize.Įeyore, aka Elly, is the youngest of the bunch. Oftentimes graphic and bleak, she crafts a story that reads like a documentary of life on the streets in L.A. Jessica Blank writes a gritty, raw novel of life on the street for a mismatched group of young kids.

Almost home by jessica blank