Praying at the Sweetwater Motel — April Young Fritz

At first, leaving home in the middle of the night seemed exciting to Sarah Jane, an adventure. It also seemed necessary. Sarah Jane had heard the arguments between her mother and father. She had seen the bruises shadowing Mama's perfectly made-up face. And when Daddy finally turned his anger on Sarah Jane, Mama seemed to wake up and decide that enough was enough. Now they're living at the Sweetwater Motel in Ohio, "The Heart of It All." For Sarah Jane, the adventure is over and reality has set in. Money is tight, nerves are frayed. Sarah Jane misses her best friend, her books, her grandma, the horse she always rode. She even misses her daddy, although she'd never dare tell Mama. As life becomes more difficult, Sarah Jane begins to regret their escape. Can a motel ever really be home? Can they be a family without Daddy?