First published 1993
Katie endures the sweltering summer heat on a Texas military base where her family is stationed. Her days stretch endlessly as she dreams about growing up, hopes that Dickie Mack will notice her romantically, and wishes her body would develop. Most of all, she waits for her father's violent outbursts to end. Ever since her mother's death, Katie and her older sister Diane have watched their father become increasingly remote and brutal. Diane finds refuge with her boyfriend, leaving Katie to cope alone. Katie retreats to her bedroom or seeks comfort at her best friend's house whenever possible. She looks up to Diane's fierce independence and rebellious spirit. When Katie decides to follow her sister's bold example, she embarks on a journey that will change everything about how she sees herself and her world.
Genres: american-fiction, abuse, 20th-century, coming-of-age, adolescence
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, family-drama, sibling-relationship
Setting: Texas
Period: 20th-century
192 pages · Hardcover · Random House
Content warnings: abuse, domestic-violence