This is a coming of age story. Filipa is fourteen years old and dealing with the usual issues of a teen: sexuality, social acceptance, and self identity.
At the same time, her parents' relationship is crumbling under the weight of a real crisis.
All children confront the reality of their parents' imperfection at some point. Up till now, Filipa has seen her mother and (especially) her father through the eyes of an adoring child. She has to dispense with the childish viewpoint and confront reality, as she perceives it, just as the family's foundation is threatened. She feels her world crumbling around her as she realizes that she never really understood the real foundation of the family. In the end, she is adrift without any direction or understanding.
The resolution of this story is an imperfect one, with all involved parties grasping for the little pieces of happiness that can be salvaged. It is a realistic ending to a real-world story.
This story is about love, in all its forms--familial, romantic, platonic. It is love that sets them all adrift and love that provides whatever solace can be found.
