Blue Plate Special

The lives of three troubled girls, of three different generations, intertwine: “Evocative . . . [The] protagonists are distinctive and sympathetic.” —Publishers Weekly  An Eliot Rosewater Award NomineeShortlisted for a Cybil Award   Spanning from the late 1970s to 2009, this novel follows the stories of three young women raised by single mothers in upstate New York. Madeline eats compulsively and tries to be ultra-responsible as she copes with her self-centered, alcoholic mom. Desiree clings to her boyfriend to avoid her verbally abusive mother, who neglects her in favor of her beloved soap operas. And smart, ambitious Ariel gets love and support from her mother, but struggles with a father in prison and a possessive, controlling boyfriend. Each experiences trauma that could shatter her spirit. But ultimately, a hard-earned healing will unite them.   “Kwasney effectively develops her characters into multidimensional personalities, convincing in their strengths and weakness.” —Kirkus Reviews   “Kwasney’s protagonists are distinctive and empathetic, her narratives meticulously structured and realistic, exposing the unpredictability—and sometimes unfairness—that life can bring.” —Publishers Weekly