Kathleen Winters' life isn't really sheltered. In fact her diary shows it's quite average--homework, dates, occasional arguments with her mother. But once Kathleen meets Sybil, the story changes. Soon Kathleen is into drugs, and she's doing dangerous things for her new boyfriend, a Mexican who's entered the country illegally. The conflict with her mother sharpens. And when Mrs. Winters goes to the authorities with what she knows, Kathleen runs away to Mexico with Sybil. Her flight turns out to be a journey through hell.

From the reviews:

"The heroine's unconscious irresponsibility is well drawn, as is her self-generated struggle to sort herself out; the plot turns tend to be audacious but lead to a sensibly affecting, open ending."

ALA Booklist

"The novel is archetypical, deeply moving and profound. With this book, O'Dell has moved to a new level."

World of Children's Books

"all the trappings of a made-for-television movie."

New York Times Book Review