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, 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 and nerves are frayed. Sarah Jane misses her best friend, her books, her grandma, the horse she has always ridden. She even misses her daddy, although she'd never dare tell Mama. As life becomes more difficult for Sarah Jane at home and at school, she begins to regret their escape. Could a motel ever really be home? she wonders. Could they ever be a family without Daddy? April Young Fritz explores themes of home, family, and loyalty in this moving, often humorous, always engaging novel. Book jacket. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.