Sparked a whole genre of similar mind-rot. Judy Blume, Adrian Mole, etc.
Sex, cursing, egotism, broken family ties, etc., all laid out for kids to "identify" with.
I couldn't stand CITR, but you're absolutely right, it started a whole new and repulsive genre.
When kids are at their most susceptible (junior high school age), teachers urge them to read these horrible stories where everybody in the family seems to be an alcholic, an incest victim, a jailbird, etc., with a whiny heroine who sits around and feels sorry for herself. And this Jerry Springer vision of the universe is pushed as being a reflection of normal everyday life. No wonder many kids seem to be jaded and cynical by the age of 15 now.