Sometimes, a book will come along that very quietly, very subtly changes your life. It shifts the world on its axis just enough to send you reeling—just enough to skew your perspective and have an impact on the way you think.

This is one of those books.

There are books that make us laugh, that make us cry, that make us strain our brains. Then, there are the ones like this that remind us that we’re not alone. Other people with similar problems, circumstances, and outlooks actually do share this earth.

This book is hard to read because it’s emotionally raw, and that can only be attributed to the powerful writing of its author, Jeannine Garsee. She allows the main character, Martha, to crawl into your heart and tug on strings of sympathy and give flickers of recognition that make you love her and want the best for her—then hits Martha with the hardest of life’s curveballs, one after the other. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion, and the worst part is that poor Martha sees it too, and the reader gets to experience her full reaction up close.

But there’s no way around the fact that this book is phenomenal. I finished it in record time because I couldn’t NOT finish it. Martha demanded that I read her story, and I wanted to know what happened to her.

Martha’s story includes violence, drugs, sex, and language…because it has to include those things. They’re all a very real part of Martha’s life, just as they’re a part of the lives of most teenagers. So, read it with caution—because it’s real—but read the book! Then, come back and let me know what you think. I want to know!

Off to turn another page….

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