First published 1992
Melissa McCormick's world collapses when her mother dies suddenly. With their father gone for years, she and her younger brother Andy face a terrifying reality. Social services will separate them into different foster homes if anyone discovers they are now orphans. Andy creates a desperate plan. They will find jobs to cover their expenses and tell everyone their father will return soon. Only Elizabeth Wakefield knows what really happened. She watches her friend struggle as unpaid bills accumulate and adult responsibilities overwhelm two teenagers. Melissa works frantically to maintain their secret while caring for Andy and managing a household alone. Elizabeth faces an agonizing choice. She wants to protect her friend's wishes, but she sees the situation spiraling beyond their control. The weight of keeping this secret grows heavier each day. Elizabeth must decide whether staying silent serves loyalty or whether speaking up offers the only path to save the McCormick siblings from a crisis that threatens to destroy them both.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, young-adult, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, secrets
134 pages · Paperback · Bantam Books
Content warnings: child-death