First published 2012
Jason Prosper arrives at Bellingham Academy carrying secrets that threaten to destroy him. The exclusive boarding school promises refuge from the chaos of Black Monday, when the stock market's collapse shattered his family's world. But Jason cannot escape what happened before he came here, or the weight of decisions that cost someone their life. At Bellingham, Jason throws himself into competitive sailing, finding temporary peace in the rush of wind and water. The sailing team becomes his anchor, yet even here his past intrudes. He struggles with attraction that defies easy categories, navigating desire while wrestling with shame and self-doubt. As the school year unfolds, Jason must face the truth about his role in a tragedy that haunts him. The privileged world of prep school sailing cannot shield him from the consequences of teenage choices made in desperation. Jason's journey toward forgiveness begins with learning to forgive himself, and discovering that love can survive even the darkest guilt.
Genres: literary-fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, guilt, secrets
Setting: Bellingham Academy
Period: Black Monday
310 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Content warnings: mental-illness