This contemporary coming-of-age story centers upon Maya Vidal, a remarkable teenager abandoned by her parents. Maya grew up in a rambling old house in Berkeley with her grandmother Nini, whose formidable strength helped her build a new life after emigrating from Chile in 1973 with a young son, and her grandfather Popo, a gentle African-American astronomer. When Popo dies, Maya goes off the rails. Along with a circle of girlfriends known as "the vampires,"...

When your parents name you Aldo Valentine Zelnick because you were born on February 14th, you know you've got a boyhood of Valentine's misery ahead. But this year i decided to pretend Valentine's Day didn't exist. I wanted an all boy birthday party but you know how things change and they sure did!