"This was selected by Oprah's Book Club (when that was still going) and rightfully so. However, it's not for the faint of heart if you are left gasping by abusive situations.

"The story is told from the viewpoint of Astrid -- a young girl who is thrust into said abusive situations. This is one of those books that repulses you with its graphic descriptions of her abuse while at the same time drawing you along because of the intensity of the story and the intriguing and often gut-wrenching relationship between Astrid and her mother.

"Set in southern California, the story follows Astrid and her mother over a six-year period. Astrid ages from 12 to 18. During that time, her mother is jailed for murder and Astrid is shuttled from one foster home to another where varying forms of abuse -- some of it brought on by her own actions -- occurs.

"We watch a fairly innocent young girl turn into a hardened young adult whose relationship with her mother is maintained through an exchange of letters and occasional visits to the prison in which she is housed.

"Astrid goes from grief over her mother's incarceration to anger and then hatred before ultimately coming to grips with who her mother is and why things turned out as they did. She also decides that while she can never fully forgive, she can understand how and why her mother's life spiraled out of control and left her child in harm's way.

"This is a fascinating book but be prepared for some very intense and hard-hitting writing that makes you wonder 'who's in charge here?' in regard to a foster care system that 'throws away' kids in this way.

"One of the jacket blurbs on this book says 'The narrator is particularly memorable -- there were times she made me want to cheer and weep simultaneously.' Me, too. I highly recommend it.