'Strong Up the Middle'

By David Summergrad

Matt doesn't tell this to many people, but he still has a corner of his "special blanket" which he hides under his pillow when friends come to visit. Sarah may not admit it to everyone, but she still has a stuffed "teddy" which she faithfully tucks in every night at bedtime. Is this unusual? No. Matt and Sarah are typical of many 8th graders.

Sarah makes her mom drop her off across the street from school; her mom wrestles with her to give her a kiss good-bye, but Sarah rushes out of the car, leaving the door open--hoping no one sees her. Matt comes home after school and answers: "Nothing!" to his parents' repeated queries about what he did in school that day.

Sarah and Matt are two young adults asserting their fledgling independence, trying to stand on their...