Playing With Dolls

Olya, a straight-A middle school student, is experiencing her parents' break-up and her first love at the same time, all while struggling to maintain the image of a perfect child. One day she stays at her mom's house for a sleepover; the next day, she goes to her dad's. Neither parent is happy about the arrangement, nor is Olya. This is a coming-of-age story set in a small, bleak Russian town.

• small town
• coming of age
• domestic violence
• middle school
• first love
• broken family
• immigrant family
• family abuse
• russia
• distressing
• enthusiastic
• theater kids
• immigrant children