Main Characters

Academy at Swift River, Group 23 / Admissions Summary

Bianca Suarez Bittman
Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida
Presenting problems: Lying, sneaking out with boyfriend, cutting classes, disrespect to father
Mother: Teresa, nurse (deceased)
Father: Alan, network administrator at a college
Remarks: Bianca hasn’t dealt with mother’s death from cancer
Siblings: Twin brother and older sister; both are doing well

Mary Alice Chambliss
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Presenting problems: Eating disorder, drug use, smoking, promiscuity, refuses to be with family
Mother: Lillian, dermatologist, on leave from her practice (currently full-time mother)
Father: Burns, business executive
Remarks: Mary Alice is a “mystery kid”; no obvious cause of problems; family appears to have it all
Siblings: Three younger siblings

Tyrone Harriston
Hometown: Queens, New York
Presenting problems: Refuses to attend school, plays video games till 3 a.m., suicidal thoughts
Mother: Natalie, phone company technician
Father: Lerone, various jobs
Remarks: Bitter divorce, dad forced to leave house
Siblings: Older sister (unmarried, with toddler)

D.J. Pandowski
Hometown: Suburban New Jersey
Presenting problems: Plays with fire, ran away, impulsive, poor grades
Mother: Janice, teacher
Father: Teodor, teacher
Remarks: D.J. is adopted, has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Siblings: None

Notes on Some Other Members of Group 23:

Andy: Drinks and drives, defiant with parents

Ashley: From Manhattan’s most exclusive neighborhood, has problems with boys, possible drug use, upset about adoption

Trevor: Used Ecstasy, cocaine, and other drugs with his friends at home, almost died from drug use

Phil “the Philosopher”: Lived around the world, used heroin at age fifteen, expelled from four schools

Tanner (“Teddy Bear”): Drinking, hanging out with a gang, bought a gun

Eva “the everything kid”: Anorexia, bulimia, rape, alcohol, suicide attempt

Willow: Cocaine, heroin, abusive boyfriend; a friend died from overdose

Counselor: Tanya Beecher, earned master’s in social work from Smith College

Teacher liaison: Gennarose Pope, studied English literature at Columbia University

Note: These summaries are based on information provided to the admissions office when the families applied. The names of students and their families have been changed, as has one hometown.