Arrington, Aileen

Although teachers, counselors, and social workers try to help, it is a stray cat that finally enables eleven-year-old Jordan to stand up to the father who has beaten her and her brother for years.

Sixth-grader Nadia begins to defy her overprotective mother, hoping to be seen as more than the "poor sick girl" who cannot participate in school activities, form friendships, or even be outside in the cold for fear she has inherited her father's heart trouble.