Grief

Through Penny's struggle to deal with her father's recent death, the author explores the complexity of grief and mourning. For Penny, her sorrow does not manifest in a typical fashion. Instead of freely emoting, or discussing her feelings with friends and family, Penny tries to distract herself. The day after her father's memorial service, she boldly "marches from the Grove Street PATH station in Jersey City toward the home" where her father grew up (49). Though her family has assured her the house is "not habitable" and filled with squatters, Penny decides to investigate the property anyway (47). What begins as curiosity soon turns to obsession. She not only hides the truth from her mother and brothers, but from the Nicotine residents as well, hiding behind a new donned identity.

Instead of confronting what is really happening in her spirit and heart, Penny feigns interest in activism and...