For Ages
12 to 99

A darkly funny thriller about one boy's attempt to unravel the mysterious phenomenon affecting students in his new town, as he finds a way to resist sinister forces and pursue hope for them all.

Wallace Cole is perpetually moving against his will. His father has some deeply important job with an energy company that he refuses to explain to Wallace who is, shall we say, suspicious. Not that his father ever listens to him. Just as…

An Excerpt fromBright Shining World

One 

“Rise and shine, Wallace.” 

My father woke me with that hard, open-handed push on the face he liked. I blinked awake. 

He said, “We’re leaving.” 

I’d been having a dream about trees that could communicate with each other by flying box kites. They discussed the wind. They waved to clouds. Then a pack of aphids, falcons, and men with knives descended on them, and they screamed. 

Again. 

Why couldn’t I just dream about sex? 

“It’s still dark out,” I said. 

Dad flicked on the lamp. “Get your stuff together. We’ve got a long drive.” 

We were living in a two-bedroom rental with walls made out of stale crackers. None of the overhead lights worked. In the kitchen, duct tape held together two cabinets, three windows, and four drawers. I couldn’t tell you if the decrepit white stove was gas or electric, or if it even worked--we’d never turned it on. 

“I already packed up the kitchen,” Dad said. 

That meant he’d grabbed his bottle opener. 

“Where we going?” I asked. 

“New York.” 

Shoot. That was a thousand miles away. “I’m presenting my science project third period tomorrow,” I…

Under the Cover