f.a.q.

on Lush

What inspired you to write Lush? Two of my closest friends grew up in houses with alcoholic parents. Their stories about that experience—some funny, others heart wrenching—planted the seed in my head about a second book. Alcoholism also runs in my family—not in my immediate family, but close enough for me to have absorbed some of the impact.

When I began conducting research about the children of alcoholics, I discovered some staggering statistics: Seventy-six million Americans, about 43% of the U.S. adult population, have been exposed to alcoholism in the family. Almost one in five adult Americans (18%) lived with an alcoholic while growing up. I realized that Sam’s story would ring true for many, many readers.

How did you choose the title? I wanted to choose something with a double meaning. The noun lush (a drunk, i.e. Sam’s dad) and the adjective lush (short for luxurious; juicy, ripe, i.e. Sam’s appearance—a reference to all the attention she gets from boys), felt right.

At the end of the story, Sam and her mom and brother are in the car, going to pick up Sam’s dad from rehab. Why don’t you tell us what happens to him? Contrary to popular belief, I do not set out to drive my readers crazy; I am just not a fan of neat endings. Except in rare circumstances, happily-ever-after stories leave me cold. Real life is messy, and real life doesn’t always give you answers. I am more interested in my protagonist’s state of mind at the end of my books. We may not know what’s going to happen to Sam’s dad, but we do know how strong Sam has become. We know that she’s going to fight her father every step of the way—throwing out his bottles, leaving him notes, refusing to let him dictate her life or destroy his own.

Will Sam and Drew ever get back together? I hope not! She deserves better.

Will Sam and Charlie every become friends again? If I ever get around to revising Night Swimming (the book that brings Isabelle, Sam, and Evyn together at summer camp), you’ll find out. . . .

Did anything that happens in Lush ever happen to you? Hmmm . . . do I really want to share my deepest, darkest traumas and humiliations circa 1985 . . . ? Yes, some of those things really did happen to me, but you’ll have to guess which.

Lush has been banned in some middle schools. How do you feel about that? Befuddled. While I was writing, it never occurred to me that Sam’s story was in any way controversial or inappropriate for middle-grade readers. To my mind, the book is a realistic portrayal of a girl with an alcoholic father, a girl who is struggling with her own decision-making vis-a-vis alcohol and boys. The scene of contention for some parents and educators: when a drunken Sam ends up in a bedroom with an older boy and he attempts to take advantage of her. The incident, while disturbing, is not gratuitous. If anything, the scene serves as a cautionary tale—fruit for discussion, not forbidden fruit.

FYI, Judy Blume (my literary idol) has a great section on her website dedicated to censorship.