One of the first things the reader notices about Antonia is how repressed she is and how she appears to have no real friends.

Having no friends makes life difficult for a teenager; not only is it uncomfortable to sit alone at lunch and painful to be excluded from parties and social events, but it prevents self-exploration and self-discovery.

People learn from interacting with others, and they gain perspective by observing how others think and act. Antonia's family responsibilities prevent her from making friends but the peer counseling program provides an opportunity to talk with other teens that have similar concerns and feelings. Dr. Dileo knew what he was doing when he goaded Antonia into counseling, and he knew what he was doing when he paired her with Jazz Luther. It is no surprise that Antonia benefits from the counseling sessions. She longs for interaction with...