A Deer in Winter is an inspiring story of survival. Itas the semi-autobiographical tale of a young womanas odyssey as she escapes from an abusive home, endures homelessness in the cold of a New York winter, and survives sexual attacks and harassment. In the meantime, she continues her last term of high school while secretly homeless, in constant fear of being discovered and returned to her abusive household. Through it all, she sets her sights on meeting her ultimate goalagraduating high school and attending college in the fall so that she can eventually rise above her troubled background and build a better life for herself. All the rituals of daily life must be negotiated: how and where she sleeps each night, in the rain and snow; how she gets food; how she cleans herself and her clothes; and how she spends her evenings. Along the way she works, makes friends and boyfriends, and explores the fascinating sites of New York City.