Thousands of families with children live in rundown motels. Susan Zurenda will examine the life-changing story of her fictionalized character Hazel living in a dilapidated motel in her novel The Girl From the Red Rose Motel. In this story about the overwhelming capacity of love, 17-year old Hazel finds strength and guidance from her English teacher and encouragement from her affluent boyfriend Sterling, whom she meets during in-school suspension, to escape her maladaptive environment. You’ll cheer for this young woman who develops hope and courage to make a bold and astonishing decision to save herself.