Margaret Powers Milardo

Unhappy and rebellious, Brandi attracts trouble in and out of school. Fighting and drug abuse lead to suspension. Robbery and assault land her in a juvenile detention center, where she meets Muriel, a tough corrections officer who forms a relationship with the teen. Muriel helps Brandi begin to change her life. Dean, a casual friend, drug user, and supplier, as well as a battered son, causes mayhem at a school gathering and, as a result, enters the court system. He and Brandi develop a strong bond, which initially changes both their lives for the better. In a startling confrontation with his father, Dean embarks on a dangerous journey, and Brandi suffers a painful setback. Brandi's strength of character helps her reach an understanding of herself and of the world around her. She is a typical teen in many ways, in that no teenager is either typical or ordinary. She negotiates the pitfalls of young adulthood because of significant help from caring adults.