Cassandra Stephens (Cassie for short) has a very difficult life for a 13-year-old. She has bad asthma, a mom who doesn't let her make her own decisions, and a father who spends more time with his golf clubs than his family. Her parents constantly argue and it drives her crazy, but who can she turn to? Her older sister, Stephanie, doesn't give her the time of day unless it is with harsh name calling. Her brother Andrew is too young to understand. Cassie can only talk to her best friend Vicki, who is, luckily, an aspiring psychologist. Cassie makes the perfect patient.

Cassie and Vicki also have other issues brewing at school. They come up with "Operation Overthrow" in which they gather a mob of freshman to prepare them to run for the various freshman class positions. The purpose is to eliminate the "popular clique" from class offices. Who is better qualified for class president than hypochondriac, asthmatic, self-conscious Cassie? This is a girl who copes with her stress by devouring red pistachio nuts and copes with her self-consciousness issues by plucking away almost all of her eyebrows. Cassie, eyebrow-less and red-fingered, is determined to attain the position of class president. At least it keeps her mind off of her troubles at home.

I loved this book, although I think it's geared more for younger readers. Everyone I know has at least one of the problems that Cassie deals with and that is what makes the book so interesting and fun to read. If pistachios help Cassie, can I get a prescription for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups?

    --- Reviewed by Jamie Schwartz