Part I of the book is the powerful true story of a young Florida girl's death from abuse at the hands of her mother's boyfriend, with the acquiescence of the mother. It is an intimate picture of this tragedy, largely told from the perspective of the child.
Part II was extensively updated and revised in 2002. It is a comprehensive but concise guide to understanding and confronting child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and dating violence. It has concrete advice for parents and young people on building healthy relationships.
Readers are often deeply moved and motivated by this book. It enjoys a great popularity with young people and is highly valued by many educators and professional trainers.