I had a hard time putting this book down. I can’t imagine the pain that a mother must experience when her teenage child runs away from home. Claire’s daughter, Mia, was abused by her dad when she was very young. As a teenager, these memories were too much for Mia to deal with, so she started self-mutilating, taking drugs, sleeping around, and finally ran away. Claire wasn’t willing to give up on her daughter, so she tracked her down, and forcibly enrolled her in a treatment program.

One of the most frightening aspects of the book was the real lack of control that Claire had over Mia. According to California law, Claire could not enroll Mia in a drug treatment program against her will, or even have Mia tested for STDS, even though Mia was only 15!

This is the kind of book that makes you hold your baby close, cherish the days when he’s home safe with you, and then offer him back to God, who can care for him so much better than I will ever be able to.