The story focuses on Joan, a girl who is naive, father dominated, and the first of her family to go to college. Her parents send her to an isolated religious school, thinking she will be safe from what is happening at other colleges. From the time she meets her roommate, her freshman world becomes one of uncertainty, forays into drugs and alcohol, and an escape from rape that finally opens her life to the positive experiences available to her on campus. Joan, now in midlife, tells the story to her daughter in the hope that even though her daughter will have to face all she did and much more, she will make better choices in college and truly be safe. Drawn from the author's college counseling and administrative experiences, this novel is a "must read" for parents and pre college students alike, who can then discuss the importance of choices made in that crucial freshman year.