I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much for this book. Zarr's first book, Story of a Girl, was something that I hated and thought it was critically overrated. I didn't hate this one, though I only read it because I had to review it for my award committee.

The tale's protagonist is Jenna. You wouldn't think she would have much to worry about. She has a hunk for a boyfriend, and she is popular. She has a supportive group of friends. She is involved at school and gets pretty good grades.

She is troubled with sad memories of being in elementary school when she was quite a bit larger, and she went by her given name, Jennifer. She was made fun of incessantly at school at that time. Jenna thought she had put that all behind her.

All of that changes with the arrival of Cameron. He had been her best friend in elementary school until he disappeared with his family, leaving her and many others to think he had died. His mysterious return forces her to confront the once difficult time to his emotionally abusive father and her mother, who seemed to busy with work and school to be there for her.

As she gets reacquainted with Cameron, the situation becomes more complex as she starts to question who she has become. Is she happy with Jenna as she has totally erased Jennifer? Should she confront her mother about how she felt she was raised? Should she stay with her boyfriend Ethan, who seems more concerned with what he wants than her?

Jenna is a strong character, and I felt a real connecting between her and her stepfather Alan, who seems to be the only adult in her life ... period. Her mother still overworks and the teachers are just names mentioned in passing. Almost all of the characters are two dimensional: Ethan is the stereotypical self-centered boyfriend, Cameron is the troubled boy with a dark past she feels a connection with, her mother is the typical bad mother who doesn't notice when things are not good, and all of her friends could be characters from a teen drama on television.

I know that Zarr was trying to emphasize the horror of emotional abuse and the damage it can do to people. Through the book, she is showing Jenna and Cameron as they deal with the horrible after effects. Unfortunately, I felt totally unmoved by the results. I should have been moved. I wanted to be moved, but the whole thing was just so cliché that there was little that was fresh about the story.

I have to make a comment about the cover. I just don't get it. It makes it seem like it is going to be a cute girly, book, but it is a dark tale filled with emotion. OK ... I do get the symbolism having read it, but I just think it is not presenting what the book is really about for those shopping for a book to read.