Stead certainly has an understanding of the emotions and feelings of teenagers. Friendships shift and change from junior to senior high, sometimes you fall in love with your best friend but you're not ready for it to be anything else, and a girl needs excellent friends above all else if she's going to get through these years in one piece. I also really loved the sibling relationships in this book. I wish I knew more about Sherm's grandfather and the choices he made; this was the only part that felt unfinished to me.