Mazzy's mother refuses to get out of bed. Nonetheless, when Mazzy answers phone calls from her father, she tells him everything is fine. Her father knows as well as Mazzy that this is a lie, but he avoids the situation by working at an out-of-state job. A social worker and some curious neighbors also suspect there's trouble at Mazzy's house, though Mazzy does her best to care for herself and her mother. As Mazzy copes with her situation by drawing and painting, she also recalls the terrible incident that led to her mother's depression. Black-and-white images.
Summary The death of Mazzy’s little sister has sent Roxie into depression. Dave is almost never home since the accident, and the neighbors are so worried about Mazzy that they’re calling social services. But Mazzy is in denial; she feels that if she keeps saying “everything is fine,” it will be.
Topics Neighbors. Kindness. Dissection. Marshmallows. Family services. Body image. Art. Boats. Relatives. Denial. Boyfriends. Health care. Absent fathers. Football. Anger. Clothes shopping. Yoga. Vampires. Healthy food. Photo albums. Normalcy. Mount Rushmore. Defending a friend. Ambulances. Grief. Cars. Gossip. Job offers. Breasts. Funerals. Suicide attempts. Trying out for a team. Blame. Accidents. Death. Depression. Treating mental illness. Hospitalization. Separation. Escapes. Choices.
SRC Level 3.500000
SRC Points 9.000000
Lexile HL460L
Trim Size 5 1/2" x 8 1/4"
JLG Span Fall
Language English
Publication date 2009-02-28
JLG Release Date Mar 2009
Minimum grade 6
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
Upper Middle School Fiction Plus (Grades 6-8)
Upper Middle School Fiction Plus
Upper Middle School Fiction Plus (Grades 6-8)
For Grades 6-8
This collection features fiction titles selected for older middle school readers who are ready for longer, more layered stories that explore growing independence and changing perspective. Selections include realistic and speculative fiction with increased emotional and narrative complexity, offering stories that look beyond immediate experience and invite readers to engage with broader questions about identity, belonging, and the world around them.