Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City by Andrea Elliott

Andrea Elliott's book, "Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City", is a compelling look into the life of Dasani, a homeless eleven-year-old girl living in one of New York City's homeless shelters. The book follows the story of Dasani and her family and their struggles with poverty and homelessness over the course of seven years.

The book begins by introducing the reader to Dasani and her family. The family lives in the Auburn Family Residence, which is one of the many homeless shelters operated by the New York City's Department of Homeless Services. The family is made up of Dasani's mother, Chanel, her father, Supreme, and her seven siblings. The book details how the family ended-up living at the shelter and highlights the ongoing struggles of the family, especially Dasani and her siblings, in their effort to survive and escape poverty and homelessness.

Elliott uses her journalistic expertise to paint a vivid picture of the poverty that Dasani and her family experience. She breaks down the system, showing readers the complexities and shortcomings of housing assistance programs and other forms of public aid. She also interviews numerous people in the community and highlights the experiences of other homeless families, making the story all the more real and poignant.

At the heart of the book is Dasani, who Elliott paints as both a symbol of the struggles facing many homeless New Yorkers and a beacon of hope. She paints a vivid picture of Dasani's thoughts, feelings, and experiences, showing her resilience and courage even in the face of hardship and poverty.

Elliott's portrayal of Dasani also serves to illuminate the many systemic flaws that keep poor people living in a cycle of poverty and homelessness. Elliott is explicit in her criticism of the broken system, which she blames for the lack of opportunity and resources available to Dasani and her family. She also highlights the suffering caused by the current system and the desperate need for change to address the ongoing problems of poverty and homelessness.

Overall, the book makes for a powerful and heartbreaking read. By following Dasani's story, Elliott highlights not only the individual struggles of poor people living in a broken system but also the potential for hope and growth. Elliott's book is an inspiring testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and survive even in the most difficult of situations. This is evident in the profound transformation that Dasani and her family experience over the course of the book, providing readers with a powerful example of resilience in the face of hardship.