Night Diving
Told mostly in flashbacks, this first novel centers on a  childhood friendship that eventually blossoms into an adult  love. When her grandmother dies, Rose must leave San Francisco  and return home, where she runs into her old best friend and  first crush, Jessie, sparking a slew of memories. Growing up,  each girl had a major cross to bear in dealing with her mother:  Rose's mother, Vivian, suffered from manic depression while  Jessie's battled a less severe form of depression. As the girls  became closer, they also endured the constant pranks of their  classmates and the ostracism that inevitably came with being  different in high school. Fearful of the girls' closeness and  what it might mean, Rose's parents even moved the family to  another neighborhood and school district to force a separation.  At the heart of the story, however, is Jessie's secret-a  sexually abusive father and the toll that he has taken on her  emotional life. A clinical psychologist by training, Esposito  has written a thoughtful and sensitive coming-of-age-and coming  out-story, full of drama but balanced with enough intelligence  and subtlety so that it doesn't lapse into histrionics.  Recommended for all public libraries.Caroline Mann, Univ. of  Portland Lib., ORCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.