We Can't Be Friends

Gr 9 Up—This true story chronicles the author's life experiences, which landed her in Straight¸ Inc., a notorious "tough love" program for drug-addicted teens. Etler reveals, piece by piece, her childhood experiences of being sexually abused as a child and feeling genuinely unloved by her mom. Readers will be shocked and angered to find out that Etler didn't truly have an addiction problem. Her mom sent her to Straight, Inc. in order to sweep the truth of Etler's abuse under the rug. Straight, Inc. is portrayed throughout the book as a brainwashing machine. Readers who haven't read Etler's previous book will be a bit confused as to why Straight, Inc. is not described in greater detail. Etler's teen years, her complicated relationships with boys, school failures, and her unfulfilling relationship with her mom, are all written in such a way that readers will feel true compassion for her. The footnote at the end of the book encourages abuse survivors or children currently being abused to seek help without adopting a didactic tone.