First published 1994
Eighth-graders Marie and Lena are an unlikely pair, but their bond runs deep. When Marie learns Lena's father is abusing her, she faces an impossible choice: break her friend's trust or let the abuse continue. Caught between loyalty and the need to protect, Marie struggles to find the courage to act. In this searing portrait of friendship and trauma, Woodson illuminates the resilience of the human spirit and the profound power of speaking the unspeakable.
Genres: abuse, contemporary, adolescence, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, friendship
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
115 pages · Hardcover · Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: abuse, domestic-violence