First published 2004
Connor knows Branwell would never hurt anyone, especially not his baby half-sister Nikki. But Nikki lies unconscious in the hospital after a terrible incident, and Branwell sits in juvenile detention, accused of harming her. The worst part is that Branwell has stopped talking completely. He won't explain what happened. He won't defend himself. He won't even speak to Connor, his closest friend. Everyone else believes Branwell is guilty, but Connor refuses to accept it. He becomes determined to communicate with his friend and uncover the truth. Connor develops a system to reach Branwell despite his silence, but breaking through requires patience and creativity. As Connor works to establish contact, he faces pressure from adults who want him to stay away. The real challenge isn't just getting Branwell to communicate but figuring out how to prove his innocence when the evidence seems stacked against him. Connor must navigate family secrets, adult deceptions, and his own doubts while racing against time to save his friend's future.
Genres: mystery, crime, contemporary, young-adult, psychological-thriller, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: false-accusation, found-family, unreliable-narrator
261 pages · Library Binding · Tandem Library
Content warnings: mental-illness