I read this many times when I was a teenager. I still remember some parts of it vividly. I think I'll try to track down a copy for my sister's daughter. ( )

*spoilers*

Um.... I guess for a swift crash-course in child abuse, this book is okay. It's only 108 pages, not really long enough to establish much... The reader is thrown into the character's lives without much backstory, or explanations for things (like why Katie is always so hesitant to talk to her mother about problems). Everything happens fast because the book is so short... You don't really get to see the attachment grow between Katie and the little boy, Justin, it's just suddenly there. The abuse is suddenly obvious (although Katie tries to deny it and explain it away, not wanting to believe)....

However, the ending of the book did surprise me, because it was assumed all along that the father was the one hurting Justin. The mother's confession, and explanation, and turn-around, while rushed and crammed into one small chapter, was a surprise. ( )