First published 1999
Ben has found something he never expected: stability. His stepfather provides the steady home life that had always eluded him before. But peace proves fragile in this blended family. His stepbrother's unpredictable moods create constant friction, leaving Ben walking on eggshells in his own house. Meanwhile, his mother grows increasingly dissatisfied with her new marriage. She paces the rooms like a caged animal, her discontent spreading through the household like smoke. Ben watches her pull away from the life they've built, sensing that the security he's come to depend on might crumble at any moment. Caught between his stepbrother's volatility and his mother's mounting restlessness, Ben must decide whether to fight for the family he's grown to value or prepare himself for another upheaval. The question becomes whether love and commitment can overcome the destructive patterns that seem to follow them wherever they go.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, found-family
144 pages · Hardcover · Hyperion