Mad teens and crazy parents

The Good Lie
by Robin Brande

She channeled a lot of rage in this one. Imagine you're a sixteen-year-old girl whose mother just up and left one day, without explanation, to live with some man you didn't know existed. And your father is a complete nutcase who expects you to take over the housework and cooking that she used to do. And your little brother looks up to you but is totally miserable now she's gone. Then things get worse.

At the same time everyone around you seems obsessed with sex even if they're not having any. Or possibly it's just  you who are obsessed and projecting it on everyone else, probably because you and your father are both bible-thumping nuthouses who justify everything they do with King James Version citations.

I can't say I fully enjoyed this one of Robin Brande's books, and at this point I'll probably not read any more of the older ones. If a new one comes out, we'll see. Mind you, it's impossible to this book put down and would be highly recommended reading for any teenager who is dealing with rage. Maybe they would recognize themselves in Ms. Brande's heroine, every time she loses her temper and destroys some of her best chances for making things better.