Tramps Like Us : A Suburban Confession

Set adrift after her parents divorce at the age of six, Buckley embarks upon an emotional odyssey through the eerie netherlands of Northern New Jersey, where perverted gym teachers are as big a threat as the local mobsters, and drum-playing orangutans wield the power to shape the future. But as her world falls apart, Buckley never loses her sense of humour or the armour of her vivid imagination. Leading a cast of wacky characters - including her brilliantly wry divorcie mom, a trio of Korean orphans, two Jewish stepsisters, and one pot-smoking runaway - Buckley emerges as a thoroughly unforgettable young heroine. gt;Wickedly irreverent, this New Jersey native takes us with her through the series of catastrophic detours she calls childhood. The ride is full of laughs and poignant moments as Buckley collects unlikely friends, siblings, and step-relatives. After a childhood spent searching for a place to call home, she ultimately makes her escape from New Jersey and prepares for her biggest adventure yet - striking out on her own.

Kristen Buckley is author of The Parker Grey Show and coauthor of the screenplay How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. She lives in Los Angeles.