A boy triumphs over his abusive environment in this raw and gripping story from National Book Award finalist Chris Lynch.

Davey's had to grow up fast in order to get away?away from his beautiful mother, who loves him but can't take care of him; away from his charismatic but reckless father, who loves him too, but can't commit; and away from the people who look at him strangely because he's not like them. The only constant in his life has been his sister, Joanne. She's fed him, protected him, and taken care of him ever since she was seven and he was two.

Now Jo, still a teenager, has a baby herself, and it's Davey's turn to take care of someone, to offer love like he's never known before.

National Book Award finalist Chris Lynch ?describes in unflinching detail a squalid, urban scene? in this ?meticulously crafted? novel with ?evocative and lyrical prose? (Publishers Weekly).

Chris Lynch is the award-winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels, including Printz Honor Book Freewill, Iceman, Gypsy Davey, and Shadow Boxer-all ALA Best Books for Young Adults-as well as Killing Time in Crystal City, Little Blue Lies, Pieces, Kill Switch, Angry Young Man, and Inexcusable, which was a National Book Award finalist and the recipient of six starred reviews. Chris is the author of middle grade novel Walkin' the Dog. He holds an MA from the writing program at Emerson College. He teaches in the creative writing MFA program at Lesley University. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.