This book about Nick, a high school student in Miami, Florida, addresses the issues of physical abuse-- in families and in dating relationships-- as well as the effects unchecked anger can have on a person and ultimately his life. 
 As the book begins, Nick is being sentenced to anger management classes after a restraining order has been placed on him to keep him away from his former girlfriend, Caitlyn. In a fit of rage, Nick had hit Caitlyn, and the restraining order and required classes are the results. Much of the story is told through the journal Nick is required to keep for the judge as he works through his anger management classes. 
 I found that I had times when I liked Nick and times when I could certainly sympathize with him, but there were a few passages in the book where I could really dislike this kid. The author does a nice job of balancing this so that you can dislike some of Nick's actions, but still pull for things to work out for him in the end. 
 A good read.