The way this book starts reminds me of a vacation I took the summer before my freshman year of high school. My aunt lived in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and a friend of mine and I went to stay with her and her family for a month.
Must be the setting and all the teens.
We met a whole neighborhood of new friends and hung out in pools. Fortunately we weren't drinking and drugging, just very innocent preteen crushes.
This first chapter gets off to a major jump start that left me curious and interested in reading on. I love how Vicki intersperses the kids thoughts. I believe they are so true to life. Teens have so many things to think about and I think for some their highest priority is fitting in. Just like Jessie wanting to be the #1 girl in the group...the most popular.
The emotions of the teens are right on. Even though I find it unfortunate, I truly believe there's a whole segment of our youth who feel this way. Thanks to televison!
I could also relate to the whole college acceptance talk.
With three teens on the homefront, this book is right up my alley.