Fifteen-year-old Nina and her family are struggling to hold things together in the wake of the accidental death of her four-year-old brother several years earlier. Seeking refuge in her art, Nina's mother has painted a series of nude portraits of her remaining living child. As these haunting images go public, Nina is forced to deal with her burgeoning sexuality in front of a large and critical audience. With tension in the family reaching a breaking point, the portrait entitled Nina: Adolescence provokes a situation that will either be the engine of Nina's destruction-or the catalyst that enables her to finally surmount tragedy. In this mesmerizing first novel, Amy Hassinger captures the cruelties and passions of adolescence with eloquence, tenderness, and a fearless sensuality. In Nina, she has created an unforgettable character-and launched a stunning career. Read Less