by Delia Ephron
First published 1991
Sixteen-year-old protagonist faces the typical upheavals of adolescence while dealing with her complicated family dynamics. She struggles to define herself apart from her parents' expectations and her siblings' achievements. School pressures mount as she tries to figure out what she wants from life versus what others want for her. Friends come and go, romantic interests create confusion, and every decision feels monumental. The teenager grapples with questions about identity, independence, and belonging that seem to have no clear answers. Her journey toward self-understanding unfolds through daily conflicts both large and small. The story captures the intensity of teenage emotions and the universal challenge of becoming your own person while still needing your family.
Genres: fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, adolescence, young-adult, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Period: 21st-century
96 pages · Hardcover · Running Pr Book Pub