Sandra Fontana

Good Girl Sandra Fontana

It's 1963, and eleven-year-old Laura Randall's family has recently moved into a mansion. But images can be deceiving, and appearances can hide the atrocities that take place within. Like the fighting, swearing, and abuse that goes on between Laura's parents. Like the fact that Laura and her younger sister live in fear, accustomed to spending nights in a closet. And that their older sister, who shoulders the responsibilities of childcare, cooking and cleaning, must be both child and adult. All this is secret; and no matter what happens, the children are forbidden from speaking about their situation... to anyone. Naïve yet headstrong, Laura won't admit she's ill-equipped to influence her parents' disturbing behavior when she sets out to reinvent herself as a good girl. In doing so, she becomes skillful at trading off her own happiness, her own strength, her own value. But there's one thing she hasn't anticipated: She's growing up. With the pressure of doing the right thing pulling at her core, she wonders if being a bad girl is the best way to be a good girl. (Contains adult language and situations. Not suitable for children.)