Synopses & Reviews
Blood can both wound and heal . . .
Willa is lucky: She has a loving blended family that gets along. Not all families are so fortunate. But when a bloody crime takes place hundreds of miles away, it has an explosive effect on Willa’s peaceful life. The estranged father she hardly remembers has murdered his new wife and children, and is headed east toward Willa and her mother. Under police protection, Willa discovers that her mother has harbored secrets that are threatening to boil over. Has everything Willa believed about herself been a lie? But as Willa sets out to untangle the mysteries of her past, she also keeps her own secret—one that has the potential to tear apart all she holds dear.
Review
This intense psychological drama, showing the brightest and darkest sides of humanity, offers remarkable acts of courage and disturbing images of domestic violence. Willa's frankly portrayed grief, confusion, and uncertainties will have a strong impact on readers."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"The sheer drama of the plot will draw readers, and they’ll stay for an insightful exploration of the way families go both right and wrong."--Bulletin
Synopsis
After Willa's estranged father goes on a killing spree in Texas, she and her mother are horrified to learn he's headed their way. Under police protection, Willa begins to tease out secrets from the past before going to Texas herself to learn more about the family she never knew--all while keeping her own dangerous secret. A tale of love and deception from the New York Times bestselling author of Life As We Knew It.
Synopsis
“Willas frankly portrayed grief, confusion, and uncertainties will have a strong impact on readers.” -Publishers Weekly, starred review
Sixteen-year-old Willa is fortunate to have a happy blended family. But a frantic phone call from Pryor, Texas, shatters the calm. Willas birth father has murdered his second wife and daughters . . . and the police think hes on his way east to hunt down Willa and her mother. As this disturbing tragedy inevitably exposes family secrets to Willa and her community, she struggles with her own destructive secret.
About the Author
Susan Beth Pfeffer is the author of many books for teens, including the New York Times bestseller Life As We Knew It, which was nominated for more than 20 state awards, The Dead & the Gone, and This World We Live In. Pfeffer's other books include the bestselling novel The Year Without Michael and the popular Portraits of Little Women series and Kid Power, which won the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award and the Sequoyah Book Award.