Blue Plate Special
Blue Plate Special
Michelle D. Kwasney
Madeline is an overweight girl, self conscious about burns on her arm, and ashamed of her alcoholic mother. She feels like no one in the world even notices her, until she meets a high school dropout working at McDonalds who really sees her...and likes what he he has found.
Desiree feels stifled by her mother, and downright threatened by the man who wants to be her stepdad. When he rapes her, stealing away her virginity, she feels she cannot tell anyone. And then she finds out she is pregnant.
Ariel's dad is in prison and her mom is pretty cool, at least compared to the stories she has been told of her terrible grandmother. And finally she thinks she has found a love of her own. A guy who wants to see her every single Friday night, and gives her a cell phone so he can reach her anytime. But can there be such a thing as too much attention?
Three girls, struggling to find their way to adulthood, rebelling against mothers who at times seem only concerned with themselves. So many ways to become heartbroken, but so few clear ways to heal.
A solidly written tale of generations of family, passing problems down despite trying to make things right. Painful and raw to read, but touched with moments of such genuine sweetness, teens will relish getting to know these girls. And start wondering about their own mother's stories. Recommended for 9th grade and up.