Without even noticing, 15-year-old Katherine has become the head of her household. She hasn't had time to notice. Her single mother, an out-of-work alcoholic, has been in bed for weeks, leaving Katherine and her three younger siblings to band together and fend for themselves. But it has gotten harder and harder to maintain any sort of stability. There's no time for housework, food and money are running out, and the kids' teachers are starting to get suspicious. Worst of all, Katherine's youngest sister, Alisa, seems to be losing her grip on reality; she is obsessed with finding a door to the imaginary land of Narnia. And the longer they all struggle to maintain their pretense of normality, the more they have to fear--and to lose.

A story about 4 children desperate to survive while their mother is an alcoholic. How long can there charade last? ( )

When her mother, lost in an alcoholic stupor, gives up caring for herself and her family, the burden falls on fifteen year old Katharine.

Katharine tries to care for her younger siblings, but the family secret gets harder and harder to keep as the bills pile up and food runs low. To make matters worse, her younger sister, Alisa, runs away because she is convinced that she can make everything okay by finding a door into Narnia.

Heartbreaking and realistic. ( )

This book is probably one of the best teenage novels that I have read. You can feel that the author is writing from her heart. The story is mostly gloomy, but it's fascinating. I recommend this book to anyone who likes teenage novels that are closer to reality. (: ( )

I was surprised by how good this book was! It was wonderful I would recommend this book (just like my freshman English teacher did) to anyone who enjoys books that involve actions in real life and the imagination of a young girl! ( )