Maggie Trash has always been different from her family. Her father is a Federal Court judge, while her mother is a socialite who spends time at galas and fundraisers. Her older brother has left for college, and Maggie finds their large house very empty. Only her cat Tommi keeps her somewhat sane, but even then Maggie thinks she might be better off if she were insane, because then she wouldn't worry about finding out who she really is.
Over the last year, Maggie has grown progressively more depressed. Her grades are failing, and she's drastically changed her hair color. Her parents didn't say a thing. They are too self-involved to even notice that Maggie is suffering on the inside. Now in 11th grade, Maggie is in danger of flunking high school. A year ago Maggie realized she likes girls. She came out at school, but nobody cared. She hasn't come out to her family yet, simply because she doesn't think they would care either. Since then, she's felt very lonely.
One night, Tommi goes missing inside the house. While searching for her, Maggie finds a door she had never seen before. It takes her to a rundown house with piles of trash laying about. Returning through the hallway, she finds a boy armed with a gun inside her home. The boy has no substance. She learns that his name is Tommy, that he's looking forward to go to college, but that he's worried that by leaving to pursue his future he will be damning his mother to more abuse at the hand of his father. Tommy doesn't know where he's from, or why he's haunting Maggie, but he's pretty sure there's something he needs to do.
As Maggie and Tommy search for the missing cat, truths will be revealed, but they may not be the answers Maggie was looking for.
Beautifully illustrated, this memoir recounts seminal events in the life of Maggie Trash and attempts to find the source of her depression. Novels dealing with self-discovery include When My Sister Started Kissing and All the Bright Places.
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