That Teen Age

Anne Lamott's latest work examines the difficulties parents face as their children grow and mature much too fast. Rosie is a senior in high school, doing all the things she should be doing (hanging out with friends, learning in class, thinking about boys) and some things she shouldn't (experimenting with drugs, skipping school, flirting with a teacher). Her mother, a recovering alcoholic, tries to do her best to keep tabs on Rosie and prevent the behavior from getting worse. Imperfect Birds captures and adeptly expresses the emotions of both women, leaving you wondering who is suffering the most.