Francine Oniara

Slipping on the Banana Peel Francine Oniara

Francine is a shy and vulnerable high school student, the epitome of introversion. She has a hard time making friends and being social, but those hurdles pale in comparison to her anxiety and depression-constant heavy weights that are her constant companions. She trusts no one.



But suddenly she finds him-Chiquita. He quickly becomes her best friend and confidant, the one person she feels she can count on for anything. When she transfers to a new school in junior year, she and Chiquita begin to text, keeping their connection as close as ever despite the separation.



But people are not always who they appear to be. Chiquita begins to cross lines, to breach unspoken barriers, enough to shake Francine to her very core. Must she now question her faith in him? She blocks him every time they fight, but his hold over her is strong-she always gives in and reestablishes their link. She's falling for him, regardless of how cruel or manipulative he becomes-and it just keeps getting worse.



Can she find it in herself to end this destructive fascination, this abusive cycle, and break away from Chiquita for good?