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. ( )

This astonishing novel was like anything I've ever read before. It would be easy to peg it as a coming-of-age novel, but it's so much more than than. The dual difficulties of family mental illness and burgeoning sexuality (and gender awareness) add up to a complex drama that I could hardly put down. ( )

This book was difficult for me to get through. Set in the 1970s in England, it's about a young girl dealing with her mentally ill mother and well-intentioned father. It wasn't the subject matter that made it difficult - I think it just kind of dragged on. I did like the book, ultimately, I just think the pace was a bit slow. ( )

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. ( )

An interesting read. The story of young Jesse, a teen girl, struggling to fit in as she tries to hide her mothers mental illness and her own growing homosexual feelings. I find it interesting how the illness of the mother, who spends her life trying to destroy herself and her family, could possibly be influencing Jesse's feelings toward members of the opposite sex as she looks for a motherly love in others.

There were many characters in the book and the development of each was pretty good. There were all walks of life represented here I think.

I finished the book feeling uncertain if it was written for teens or for adults but know that I would not want my teen reading it. ( )