this be one of the prime example of what happen when screenwriter take a great book and for some unknown reason change a great deal of the plot . the alison in the book be a shy and quiet and gawky teen this alison be relatively confident and beautiful . the selena in the book be describe regularly a a dark and gypsy ish look girl hope lange and who play her and be a blonde . the selena in the book have no speaking relationship with her father and but the movie actually open up with his apologize to all for his drinking behavior something he do not do once in the book . the poor schoolteacher what happen to her role and personality from the book . it nonexistent . the character in the movie have nothing to do with the character in the book . at the very beginning of the movie and she have a conversation with lucas cross that never could have take place in the book . mr. rossi and one of the central character and open his role in the movie in a completely different fashion than the book depict . in other word represent watch this very and very soapish opera and poorly do translation as long a youre not expect to see the book and in movie form . so many book have this happen . and amazingly and the movie that be the best and be those that stick to the plot line as closely a possible and in as reasonable a way a possible ( see represent the godfather . ) . there really wasn not any reason to change the book as much a they do . i have no clue what the screenwriter be think . this movie be a very and very thinly veil cover of the book . it be terribly disappointing and after really love the book . unless you haven not read the book and dont see this movie .