A compelling authenticity marks this tale of a young woman s progress from incapacitating schizophrenia toward functional well-being. Tiffani Gilchrist is 24 years old when she moves from her parents home to Camelot House, a group shelter for disturbed young people. Stubborn, frightened but acutely perceptive, Tiffani warily takes her place among the other residents: dominating Carla, aggressive Warren, nail-gnawing Lindy and Geoffrey, who is least connected to the real world. As Tiffani deals with difficulties in her personal lifeher sister s marriage and her parents moveshe and the residents of "C" House must work out ways to live with each other and some particularly nasty neighbors. Carla s death and the neighbors suit against the house lead Tiffani to take a chance on herself for the first time. This is a remarkably good-humored, unsentimental yet sympathetic book. Tiffani, with her painful awareness and not always likable ways, is a memorable and engaging character.