In The Egypt Game, what is the main conflict?

Arguably, the main
conflict in this novel concerns the principal character, April, and her struggle to accept the
fact that her mother has left her with her grandmother and that she is not going to be living
with her anymore. She really struggles to form relationships with those around her, and at the
beginning tells various lies to them and acts in a ridiculous way. However, the conflict of this
novel is her own internal conflict to accept the fact that she is not going to be rescued by her
mother and that she can be herself and learn to love and be loved by those around her. The
resolution of this conflict is indicated when she finally receives an invitation from her mother
at the end of the novel to go to Palm Springs and spend some time with her. April's response
makes it clear that she has come to love her Grandma and her new friends in the Egypt Club and
that she is happy with herself and her lot in life:

But
Grandma and I have our plans all made for Christmas Eve and I have a date to spend part of
Christmas Day with my friend, Melanie. So I guess I can't make it this time.

This story therefore tells the gradual, moving story of one girl's
journey to accept both herself and her position in life. This is the central conflict that
dominates the narrative. Finally, at the end of the story, she has found a place to belong and
her own identity that involves acceptance of who she is rather than who she feels she needs to
be in order to be loved and to be accepted.