Saddest book I've ever read. Very hard to read as the mother of boys, but once I started, I had to finish. Very well written. Would be great book to open discussion on making good decisions. Heart breaking. ( )

excellent - Ruthie
fair - Katrina

This story is a coming of age novel about best friends Joel and Tony, who are best friends despite their different characteristics. It's an unforgettable story of peer pressure, honesty, guilt, regret, and the consequences that result from choices made. It is a story that reminds the reader that we are not alone in our suffering or struggles. ( )

Two boys set out for a long summer bike ride to some bluffs in the local state park, but Tony, the daredevil of the two, pushes Joel (who has been hesitant about the whole expedition from the start) to do something Joel knows is too dangerous: go for a swim in the river. Joel has promised his dad not to do anything he shouldn't, but Tony is persistent, and both boys pay for it in different ways, in the end. A short but powerful book that skillfully captures childhood friendships, peer pressures, and survivor's guilt. ( )

This book is great for literacy circles. It is a fiction book that makes you want to keep reading. ( )