Billie's World

But no matter where you grow up, it's not easy to be 11 years old. Finkel's book, Billie's World, is the story of an 11-year-old navigating peer pressure, fitting in, finding faithful friends and trustworthy adults. Then her life is turned upside down by the shocking and painful news of her parents' divorce.

The author, a graduate of Beachwood High School and confirmand of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, follows the sage advice to "write what you know." She was surprised, devastated and embarrassed when her parents decided to divorce in 1975. "No one got divorced in 1975," she states definitively.

"Kids are the real victims of divorce," she continues. "Being 11 is hard enough. The one place where you're supposed to feel safe and secure is now falling apart. It's devastating."

The petite, raven-haired, former television reporter turned her journalism skills inward and was able to reach the 11-year-old girl she once was in telling this story. By writing about what Billie is feeling through this difficult time, Finkel hopes girls will be comforted that they're not alone. She also hopes parents will see a glimmer of how emotional young girls are and consider their feelings.

In town from her home near Washington D.C. to visit her father Stanley Grossman and his wife Nan in Shaker Heights, Finkel described her writing regime.

After she put her young sons, Max and Sam, to bed, she turned on her computer and started the cathartic process of writing about her character and herself. Many nights as she wrote, tears streamed down her face from the pain, she admits. Now she feels flattered when a young reader insists the book couldn't have been written by an adult.

Billie's World is not set in a particular time. Billie doesn't listen to LPs or CDs or send instant messages on her cell phone or look up song lyrics on the Internet.

"I wanted (the book) to be timeless because I wanted to reach out to every girl," she says. "I tried not to use slang or technology that would set the book in a time frame."

Some kids tell her Billie's World feels old-fashioned, but Finkel is deeply concerned by a new trend in young adult fiction toward provocative storylines. It's not one she sees following herself.

"I felt this story (of divorce) needed a voice," she says. "I felt I had a great book that needs to be read by girls."

Next up, a gift for boys, as Billie's brother Jake, sees the divorce in his world.

Billie's World is available from Joseph Beth Booksellers in Legacy Village, Fireside Books in Chagrin Falls ,or online at www.Billiesworld.com.