First published 1996
Buck and Tunes Smith share a surname but not skin color. They grew up together along the Virginia coast where their families have lived for generations. Their friendship runs deep, steady as the ocean tides that shape their shoreline home. Both teens have broken from local customs, creating a bond that seems stronger than the racial divisions around them. Buck depends on Tunes completely. Tunes believes their connection can survive anything, even in a world where race determines so much. Then one spring afternoon brings violence that shatters their trust. The attack drives them apart and transforms everything they knew. Buck fights desperately to save what matters most to him. He tries everything to restore their friendship. But his attempts only push Tunes further away. Buck cannot see how his own actions hurt the person he cares about most. Their story reveals how friendship struggles against racism and how loyalty can become its own form of betrayal.
Genres: fiction, historical-fiction, contemporary, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, friendship
Setting: Virginia
Period: 20th-century
40 pages · Hardcover · Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Content warnings: racism, violence