1 | The debut novel by American author ''Creator/TawniODell'', the story revolves around Harley Altmyer, a teenager who takes care of his three younger sisters. Published in 2000, the book was an Oprah's Book Club release. |
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3 | In 2018, it was adapted into a film directed by and starring Alex Pettyfer, alongside Creator/JulietteLewis, Creator/RobertPatrick, Jennifer Morrison, and Nicola Peltz. |
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5 | !! Tropes featured in this novel include: |
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7 | %%* AbusiveParents: Harley's dad. Subverted when Harley comments that he wants to hit his sister, and he realizes it was "nothing personal." Also serves as a FreudianExcuse for many of the family's problems, particularly Amber's attraction to abusive guys. |
8 | %%* AdultsAreUseless: Pretty much all of them. |
9 | %%* BringMyBrownPants |
10 | * BrotherSisterIncest: [[spoiler:Harley and Amber, at the very end, although it's hinted that they had a sexual relationship when they were younger.]] |
11 | %%* DepartmentOfChildDisservices: Harley attends court-ordered therapy, but it doesn't seem to help much. |
12 | %%* DysfunctionalFamily: And how! |
13 | * HollywoodNewEngland: The story is set in rural Pennsylvania, but much is made of the class difference between the working-class Altmyers and their wealthy neighbour, whose father owns most of the land nearby. |
14 | * InMediasRes: Harley is already at the police station, talking about what got him there. |
15 | * LikesOlderWomen: Subverted. Harley sort of falls into his affair with the mother next door, but he claims his life is "lousy with women." |
16 | * ParentalAbandonment: His father was murdered by his mother [[spoiler: not really]]. When visiting her in prison, Harley gets the impression that she's relieved to be there, stripped of her parental duties. |
17 | * ParentalFavoritism: Misty is clearly her dad's favourite, though the possibility of sexual abuse is hinted at. |
18 | * PromotionToParent: Harley. He's offered a choice: He can be "an ADULT with dependents, or an ORPHAN with nobody." |
19 | %%* StacysMom: Harley meets his crush because his youngest sister is friends with the woman's daughter. |
20 | %%* TheWoobie: Poor, poor Harley. And the youngest, most innocent member of the family, six-year-old Jody. |
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