Walk Beside Me, Be My Friend

I bought "Walk Beside Me, Be My Friend" when I was 15 and it still sits on my shelf, frequently read, 25 years later. Many teens today, and those of us who were unhappy teens, can still relate to Kris' story. Kris, daughter of a hardworking but seemingly cold single mom, is sick of acting as mother to her three bratty younger siblings. She gets blamed for their bad behavior, and her mother never wants to listen or understand her. She decides that life on the street is preferable to home, and runs away with a friend. She endures the terror of life on the streets before finding stability in a foster home, but wonders if she can ever have a relationship with her mother again. A heartbreaking story with tragic relevance for so many girls.