he book is written as journal entries that Tish writes. She talks to them sort of like she is writing a story. In the story the mom is depressed because of the dad leaving the family. Tish doesn't care and Matt doesn't understand being too young. The mom figures out that the dad is in town and leaves to find him. Tish comes home to him being all lovey dovey over everyone. Tish is smart and doesn't fall for his sweetness. The family have scenes of the mom and dad fighting and Tish getting hit by her dad. Later the dad leaves making the mom “heartbroken”. The mom is seriously so childish. The mom leaves Tish and Matt alone to go look for the dad. This leaves the the main conflict in the story to be brought up. So Tish has to take care of herself
