Zoe is a 17 year old girl, who is supporting her single, alcoholic mother. She dreams of a place of her own, and one day, finds it in a room for rent on Lorelei Street. Zoe scrapes together money and courage, and moves out. On her own, Zoe finds relief from the burden of caring for her mother. But she also faces new challenges in providing for herself.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Zoe is such a likeable character–she is independent, loves her mother and family, works hard, and stands up for herself. Zoe’s landlord is also a delightful addition to the story. But Pearson doesn’t glorify a teenager living on her own, and Zoe must make some tough decisions if she wants to survive.