And You Give Me a Pain, Elaine

Although there are three Marshall children, the entire household revolves around middle daughter Elaine. On any given day, the rebellious teenager might decide to skip school - or take off on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend. And since eldest brother Joe is off at college, it's always up to 13-year-old Andrea to keep the family from falling apart. All Andrea wants is to be a normal teenager - hang out with her best friend Robyn, practice her gymnastics and maybe obsess over her new crush Chris. Instead, she spends most of her time trying to soothe her parents as they try to navigate through Elaine's latest act of insanity. Just as it seems things are already bad enough, the Marshall family is hit with a tragedy that rocks Andrea to her core. It's then that she will need Elaine like never before. Pevsner does an excellent job, taking the relationship between two sisters, one volatile and one a peacemaker, until the tension is often tangible. Readers will identify with the Marshalls in this very realistic story of growing up.

Andrea, 13 considers her 16-year-old sister Elaine her biggest problem and her 19-year-old brother Joe her biggest ally. Elaine skips school; she lies and causes strife in the household. On one occasion when Elaine is late returning home, Andrea lectures her along with their parents, who wisely send her out of the room because her interference is only making things worse with Elaine. Andrea displays the classic survivor sibling syndrome. Eager to avoid trouble, she compensates by doing well in her classes and being actively involved in the school play. She meets a boy with a wonderful sense of humor named Chris and just as she feels things are looking up, Elaine upsets the apple cart by running away. Elaine's disappearance causes even more tension in an already-strife filled household and yet it takes a tragic accident to bring the family closer together.

Andrea, 13 considers her 16-year-old sister Elaine her biggest problem and her 19-year-old brother Joe her biggest ally. Elaine skips school; she lies and causes strife in the household. On one occasion when Elaine is late returning home, Andrea lectures her along with their parents, who wisely send her out of the room because her interference is only making things worse with Elaine. Andrea displays the classic survivor sibling syndrome. Eager to avoid trouble, she compensates by doing well in her classes and being actively involved in the school play. She meets a boy with a wonderful sense of humor named Chris and just as she feels things are looking up, Elaine upsets the apple cart by running away. Elaine's disappearance causes even more tension in an already-strife filled household and yet it takes a tragic accident to bring the family closer together.

This book is a very bitter-sweet book. It's about true, family love and what keeping someone special close to your heart. It's about getting along with hated siblings and having to "deal" with others!