I've had some great feedback and welcome it. I've passed along much of it to my friends and they found it interesting and sometimes rewarding. One of the lessons I didn't hit as hard as I should have is the impact of both Tina and her mom on Fallon. Fallon struggled mightily with insecurity and Tina worked to build her self confidence. Other kids can be hurtful but they weren't hurtful more than once with Tina around. Word got out that if you talked trash about Fallon's foster and then adoption status you were going to hear it from Tina. Kids can be cruel but they can be helpful too. Tina was and still is an amazing individual and Tina owes her more than this story conveyed. If I ever re-work it, I'll put a lot of energy into capturing that.
If you have any feedback for my characters, feel free to send me an email. I'll pass on the appropriate comments.