Elaine Beale

Jesse Bennett is a girl caught between a rock and a crazy place in 1970s England. Her mother suffers with a mental disorder and her father is coping by ignoring the severity of the problem. Jesse doesn't fit in at school or at home. When the family moves, Jesse hopes for a new start where no one knows about her crazy home life. Then she meets Amanda and her inner life is sent spiraling through confusing emotions. A girl so desperate for love and acceptance, she would do almost anything.

The characters felt authentic. I was invested in Jesse's struggle and rooting for her to overcome. As things unfolded, there was no good alternatives for her. But the story was missing something to really draw me in to loving it. It was fine and good but it wasn't spectacular.… (mere)

This story of Jesse, a thirteen year old girl in England, who is growing up with a mother that is suffering from a mental illness and who is facing personal decisions about her own sexuality. I thought the story was strong in setting and mood. I felt the landscape of 1970's England and the hopelessness, frustration and cruelty of the characters, as well as the the humor (although there wasn't a lot of it in this story) came through. Where the story was weak was in character development. I wasn't able to put myself into Jesse's, or any of the other characters, mind. I was an outsider looking in and it made it difficult to become emotionally involved. I enjoyed the plot, I find it positive to find a book that can discuss sensitive issues, especially those facing teens, and deal with them in a realistic manner even if it seems "mature material'. I didn't have any trouble reading this book and while it wouldn't be one that I would recommend to everyone as a general great novel, I could see myself recommending it to certain readers who, like myself, want to read books dealing specifically with mental illness or sexuality issues. I rate it 3 1/2 stars.… (mere)