Francesca Cassarini begins her sophomore year at St. Sebastian’s, a formerly all-male school where she is one of only thirty girls. Her transition is complicated by her mother Mia’s sudden, paralyzing clinical depression, which leaves the vocal and energetic matriach unable to leave her bed. While her father and younger brother struggle to manage the household, Francesca navigates the social hierarchy of her new campus. She forms an uneasy alliance with a group of diverse classmates—the rebellious Tara, the studious Siobhan, and the intense Will Trombal—while trying to reclaim the identity she lost by constantly trying to fit in.
This book serves teenagers and young adults navigating family crises or the pressures of social integration. Readers find a realistic depiction of how a parent's mental illness destabilizes a family’s internal dynamics and shifts roles between children and caregivers. It appeals to those looking for a story about developing genuine friendships and finding one’s voice during a period of transition. The reader gains an understanding of how grief and health issues manifest in daily life, alongside the practical reality of maintaining a social identity under domestic strain.
Inward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2003
- Language
- EN
