Author: Gelbwasser, Margie

A 2011 Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teen Readers!

In fifteen-year-old Alyssa Bondar's Russian-Jewish culture, having a few drinks is as traditional as blinchiki and piroshki.

So when her mom's midday cocktails turn into an all-day happy hour, it seems like Alyssa's the only one who notices—or cares.

Her dad is steeped in the nightly news—and denial—and her best friend Lana is too busy trashing their shared Russian heritage so she can be popular.

Alyssa would rather focus on cross-country meets and her first kiss with her running partner, Keith, but someone has to clean up her mom's mess.

But who will be there to catch Alyssa when her mom's next fall off the wagon threatens to drag her down, too?