Kicked Out

September 1, 2003
Gr 8-10-No one loves Dime-or so she thinks. Since negative attention is better than none at all, acting out and defying every parental rule become a daily routine. Things come to a head when the 15-year-old's parents decide that she is out of control and agree to let her live with her older brother, who is a quadriplegic. Dime initially sees living away from home as ultimate freedom but soon realizes that with it comes responsibility. On her first day at Darren's apartment, her boyfriend, Gabe, and her friend Tiff come to visit and she sees them through the eyes of her brother. Is she as rude and obnoxious as they are? But Gabe loves her, or at least she thinks he does. When Dime is dumped, she is forced to examine her feelings and for the first time realizes that her behavior has been the result of her fear of being inadequate. These feelings have been with her since childhood and have colored her life. While not all teens will have the opportunity to separate from their parents or have the support and guidance of such a wise sibling, readers can see how real or perceived feelings can affect their lives. An insightful portrayal of teen angst, learning to deal with anger, and understanding the importance of self-love.-Sharon Morrison, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.