Format: Hardcover, 300pp. ISBN: 0525477365   Publisher: Dutton Juvenile Pub. Date: March 2, 2006 Edition: 1ST Language: English

Characters:

HELEN, reluctant homecoming queen, looks forward to going away to college, even if it means she has to be temporarily parted from Michael, the one person who truly understands her. He's told her that he will wait through centuries for her.

JOSHUA is tormented by his role in his sister Angela's accident. He feels trapped by the pledge he made to God and by his lifelong friendship with Andy, who has taken to hanging out with the dangerously cold Victor Munger.

MICHAEL hates the fact that he and Helen have to sneak out to parties in order to be together, because her parents are suspicious of his family and his artistic leanings.

ANDY is just fooling around with his dad's hunting rifle--messing with Josh's head--when it accidentially goes off.

It is a moment that will change all their lives forever.

Book Description

Josh makes a vow after his sister Angela's near-drowning: if God will keep her alive, he will become a priest. But Josh's promise is shattered the moment his friend Andy picks up a rifle at the end of a drinking party. The gun goes off, killing a classmate who lingered too long. Andy refuses to confess to the accident; instead, he forces Josh to help him hide the body. Then Andy swears Josh to secrecy by threatening to kill him-or worse, Angela. How can Josh protect her when he is racked with guilt? This view into a faithful boy's private hell is eye-opening and stomach-twisting.

Back Cover

Go tell it on the mountain. Over the hills and everywhere." I hum the song off-key.

Mom sits in the recliner, her eyes black pits in her too-white face. I wish she'd turn on a light so I could see her better, but maybe she's afraid of seeing me. At last she moves closer, reaches out. "I love you, Josh. You can trust me." Her voice cracks, and she sobs. "Do you want to tell me something?"

I compress myself smaller and smaller. She won't see me if I shrink to ant size. Could I shrink small enough so I could dance with the angels? On a blade of grass? On the edge of a snowflake? On the head of a pin?

Her hand strokes my back as I curl in on myself.

Inside, in the emptiness, I'm dancing light as air.