We all have to grow up. Julie Orringer tells of the humiliations, cruelties, and passions of childhood in a sparkling, fresh prose. She is a writer with a big heart and a keen sense for the small things that hold such great significance in our lives. It is that moment when life forces one to grow up. This is what the stories of young American author Julie Orringer convey. Nothing has prepared the girls and young women for the upheavals that will change their lives forever: a childhood game turns serious, a visit to Disneyland becomes a farewell to their mother. And 14-year-old Maddy confronts her fears after nearly drowning in an accident, during a diving course. Orringer's heroines experience the confusing feelings of longing, first love, and more.