Anna’s mom isn’t coping well, and winds up hospitalized after a suicide attempt. Anna moves in with her dad and her new young stepmother, a former sorority girl who is struggling with her new role as a mom. To top things off, Anna has been dumped by her friend Dani, who wants to be part of the popular crowd.

Stuck eating lunch at the misfit table, Anna makes new friends in Sarabeth and Shawna. And soon she realizes that maybe, just maybe her stepmother might be kind of cool. Time away from her mom helps her to realize that her mom might not have wanted to leave her on purpose.

Really a lovely middle grade read.