Object lessons - Anna Quindlen

It is the 1960s, in suburban New York City and twelve-year-old Maggie Scanlan begins to sense that despite the calm normality of her family everything is about to go horribly wrong...

When her all-powerful grandfather is struck down by a stroke Maggie is astonished to see her dispassionate father breakdown. Connie, her beautiful mother, is equally changed, becoming distant and unavailable. Matters only get worse when her cousin and her best friend start doing things to each other that leave Maggie confused about sex and terrified of sin.

With her life in turmoil Maggie must find a new normal before she loses herself completely.