Amber Brown usually loves the holiday season. The shopping, the wrapping, and the unwrapping are always a blast. She is not having any trouble figuring out what gifts to give, but the rest of her life is a completely different story. Amber is thrilled that her dad has finally moved back to New Jersey, but her mom is definitely not happy about it. With her dad back in town, the reality of shared custody begins, and that means a whole lot of fighting between her parents. Amber feels like she is being torn right down the middle, with half of her belonging to her mom and the other half belonging to her dad. It is a terrible feeling, like she is just a piece of property being traded back and forth. When her mom refuses to let her get her ears pierced, Amber realizes she needs to take control. Since her dad does not know about the rule, she makes a bold decision. Something has to belong entirely to her, so why shouldn't it be her own ears? Packed with the fun, humor, and clever dialogue that makes Amber so lovable, this story perfectly captures the messy reality of growing up.