"Tough Girl" (1981) is one of the grittier ABC Afterschool Specials. Although it was marketed as a story about juvenile delinquency, it's really about
“Tough Girl” (1981) is one of the grittier ABC Afterschool Specials. Although it was marketed as a story about juvenile delinquency, it’s really about trauma, abandonment, identity, and whether a young person can begin again after growing up in chaos. It was based on the novel Will the Real Renie Lake Please Stand Up? by Barbara Morgenroth.
The main character is Renie Lake, a teenager who has learned to survive by being hard.
At the beginning of the story, Renie is caught riding in a stolen van carrying drugs. Instead of remaining with her unstable mother, the court orders her to live with her estranged father, his new wife, and their family in the suburbs.
At first, Renie doesn’t fit in anywhere.
She distrusts adults. She expects rejection. She has a reputation as a “tough girl,” and she lives up to it because toughness has become her armor.
As the story unfolds, viewers begin to realize that Renie’s behavior is less about being “bad” than about being wounded. Reviews of the episode also note that the story reveals she has experienced abuse by her mother’s partner, adding another layer to her anger and distrust.
One of the most meaningful relationships in the special is Renie’s friendship with Jan, a deaf teenager who dreams of becoming a veterinarian. Unlike many people in her life, Jan doesn’t try to control or judge her. Instead, he treats her with patience and respect, giving her an opportunity to experience a different kind of relationship.
The special explores several themes that still resonate today:
Trauma often looks like defiance. Children and teens who have lived through neglect, abuse, or instability may appear angry or rebellious when they’re actually protecting themselves.
A reputation is not an identity. Renie has been labeled a “tough girl,” but the story asks whether people can grow beyond the labels others place on them.
Healing requires safe relationships. Change begins not because someone lectures Renie, but because a few people offer consistency, patience, and respect.
Belonging is complicated. Moving into a new family doesn’t instantly erase years of hurt. Trust develops slowly.
One line from the episode has stayed with viewers because it captures Renie’s inner struggle. She says she feels like there are three different versions of herself, and she no longer knows which one is the real Renie.
Viewed today, Tough Girl feels less like a cautionary tale about juvenile crime and more like an early lesson in trauma-informed care. It asks a question that remains relevant:
When a young person is acting “tough,” are we seeing their character—or are we seeing the survival strategies they’ve had to build?
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