Her dad isn't the best either he is a drunk. I think when kids are young that's when they learn the most they are like little sponges. If you show them that drinking all the time and not caring what they do and letting them run free isn't going to teach them anything. I know from experience that teaching them that it's alright to be that way then it will rub off on them and that's how they are going to be. My mom fosters two girls and my dad has two of their younger siblings. From being with them when they first got taken away the young girls didn't listen they had a bad attitude, because their mom just didn't care she was more worried about other things than the kids. The oldest daughter played mom. She took care of them, cleaned, and just played the role of mom. She shouldn't of had to do that, but that's kind of how i looked at this book like i based it off my