Fifteen-year-old Molly O'Keefe longs for her mother.

The teenager lost her mom to cancer as a small child, and though her Irish father and extended family surround her with love and encouragement, Molly misses having a woman in whom she can confide.

Molly has been dating her boyfriend, Trevor, for three months. A junior, Trevor is "experienced," and pressures Molly to move things forward physically in their relationship.

In addition to her boyfriend troubles, Molly's relationship with her best friend, Vanessa, is strained. Vanessa is wild and temperamental; she and Molly have been friends since elementary school, but their differences in lifestyle are slowly but surely creating a rift in their friendship. When Molly catches Trevor kissing his ex-girlfriend, it is the wake-up call she needs to reassess her life.

Coincidentally, she becomes involved with the "Girl Corps" through her 9-year-old neighbor's coercion. The troop leader, though somewhat overbearing in Molly's eyes, provides the strong female role Molly needs. Molly finds self-confidence and inner strength through the Girl Corps, but will it be enough to resist Trevor's persistent advances?

Stacey Goldblatt's story is warm, funny, and -- most importantly -- real. She deals with sensitive issues such as teen sex and drinking, not only delicately, but also with the knowledge of what life is really like for a teenage girl. Goldblatt doesn't glamorize Molly's battle with temptation, but she doesn't demonize it, either, which is extremely important for a girl struggling with peer pressure.

Molly is a good girl; the reader will fall in love with her and her quirky Irish family.

As a bonus, the novel ends with 100 journal prompts from the fictional "Girl Corps Handbook," referenced throughout the book. Thought provoking questions such as, "What is something you'd like to change about yourself, and why?" and "How do the choices you make now affect your future?" are good for anyone, but especially for teens trying to find (and keep) their identity.

"Girl to the Core" is a must for every teenage girl, and it wouldn't hurt for mothers to read it, too.