When her father, a strict fundamentalist preacher, refuses to believe that Lucy is pregnant because she had been raped, Lucy runs away to a nearby resort town, where she encounters Jake, who teaches her to trust and be self-reliant.
I can't explain why, but this book had a great effect on me in my teens. I have read it several times- it's a very quick read. Just something about Lucy's innocence and Jake's willingness to protect her and take her in despite her less-than favourable situation...it drew me in! I also enjoyed the bittersweet ending. I wasn't expecting to like it so much (it was in the discard pile at the library I worked at) but every now and then I will pick it up to read again.
a really important and formative book to my early adolescence that has really stood the test of time. lucy's characterization is singular and there are so many moments of this that are sweet and grounded. i was happy to revisit it (thank goodness for libraries and inter-library loan systems; please support federal funding for libraries)
I remember really liking this when I read it in high school. I remember at the time that the blurb didn't exactly spell out rape, but I recognized the lack of consent.