Right Behind You - Hardcover

Giles, Gail

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0316166367 ISBN 13: 9780316166362

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2007

Synopsis

When he was nine, Kip set another child on fire. Now, after years in a juvenile ward, he is ready for a fresh start. But the ghosts of his past soon demand justice, and he must reveal his painful secret. How can Kip tell anyone that he really is--or was--a murderer?

About this title

About the Author:

Gail Giles is the acclaimed author of several psychological drama/suspense novels for teens, including WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE?, SHATTERING GLASS, DEAD GIRLS DON'T WRITE LETTERS, and PLAYING IN TRAFFIC. SHATTERING GLASS was an ALA "Best of the Best" Book (one of the best 100 books for young readers of the decade), an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, an ALA Quick Pick for Young Readers, a Booklist Top Ten Mystery for Youth, and received starred reviews in Booklist and Kirkus. Her most recent novel, WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE? received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, VOYA and KLIATT.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 8 Up—After setting his seven-year-old neighbor in Alaska on fire, Kip McFarland spends four years in a facility for violent juvenile offenders. When he is released at the age of 14, he, his father, and his new stepmother move to Indiana, with new names. For a while, Wade enjoys a normal life. Eventually, however, despite the warnings of his therapist, he sabotages his happiness in a drunken fit of rage. After he reveals his identity, the town turns on him and his family. Now, a coastal Texas town is their final shot at starting over. The cozy community appears to be a perfect haven, but Wade feels compelled to reveal his past to Sam, the beautiful and mysterious neighbor who is winning his heart—and has a story of her own. Will she still accept him once she finds out he is a murderer? This quick read has a compelling story line, but the characters, especially the adults, are at times one-dimensional, with voices that are somewhat indistinguishable from one another. Reluctant readers will be drawn to the story's accessibility, and many teens will be pulled in by the larger questions the novel poses about innocence and acceptance. Despite its flaws, this book will be a hit with Giles's fans.—Lynn Rashid, Marriots Ridge High School, Marriotsville, MD
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About this edition

• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0316166367
• ISBN 13: 9780316166362
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304