'My walls were stripped, and all that was left in the room was a pile of boxes and my mattress propped against the wall.'
So begins Irene's journey from an Upper West Side penthouse to -- well, she's not entirely sure where. Irene's father, a corporate VP, is 'downsized' when his company merges with another. When he can't find work, her family's lifestyle -- and her mother's spending -- quickly catches up with them. Eventually, they're forced to move in with Irene's grandfather in the family farmhouse upstate. But what begins as the most disastrous summer of Irene's life takes a surprising turn, and Irene must decide what she wants for herself after losing everything she was.
"Demas anchors this quiet, hopeful book in today's headlines of job loss and the surprisingly vital safety nets that support families. Her adult characters are multidimensional: her once powerful father struggles with depression, her glamorous mother fights to salvage her pride, and her charming grandfather falls in love with one of his customers. Irene and her friends are delightful, down-to-earth kids, including Jim, with whom Irene happily--and tentatively--explores first love." -- Booklist
Recommended Age | 13 and up |
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Author | Corinne Demas |
ISBN | 0761390111 |
Publication Date | Feb 1, 2012 |
Publisher | Carolrhoda Books |
Language | English |