Cricket is dealing some serious issues when her best friend abandons her to hang out with the "horse" girls, her aunt is institutionalized with mental illness, and her mother is dissatisfied with their family.

I hated this book so much! I couldn't even get past page 27 because I was so disgusted and appalled. This book is full of uncouth nastiness on every page. There is an illustration of dirty tampons. WHY??? What in God's name possessed the publishers to publish this trash?!

The main character is a mean hooligan who admits to all sorts of terrible things like vandalism, lying, and theft. She says that she sneaks out of the house at midnight and "does bad things" because the "darkness makes me." That is terrifying.

This child needs to be in a mental home where she can get some help. She breaks streetlights, and fills water balloons with jelly and throws them off the "overbridge". I'm assuming that is a bridge over a highway, where it appears she is endangering passing cars. She steals money from her teacher's purse. She tries to start a forest fire on purpose.

I am shocked. I just can't even wrap my head around what this book is supposed to be. It's horrible!

I received a little promotional packet along with the book which contains some balloons and bubblegum, (because the main character makes art out of bubble gum. Gross.) So I'm doubly confused. Are the publishers condoning this evil behavior and giving their readers the tools they need to make their own jelly-filled balloons for a fun night of vandalism? Nothing about this book makes sense.

The illustrations are all so ugly. The art style is ugly and the subject material is ugly.

I'm throwing this book in the trash. It is very disturbing. There is a healthy way to address difficult issues, and this is not it. This is extremely unhealthy and should not be allowed out into the world for people to read.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.