The middle step

the long version

"The Middle Step tells the story of a middle-aged white suburban woman who impulsively accepts a job to be a foster mother to four at-risk teenage girls, who have been pulled from their homes. Almost immediately, Lisa Harris discovers how little she knows about urban poverty and living with children of a different race, religion, culture and background. Doggedly Lisa stays on, struggling to create a 'family' with girls who have known only trouble and sadness in their lives."--Amazon.com.