Review by April, age 16

Harley has a gift. She sees the world through truthful and open eyes. Despite all the ups and downs of her life, she is a remarkably levelheaded individual. She struggles with problems in her family and her school life is a disaster -- all except for art class and band where she gets to see her secret crush, Johnny. She is constantly trying to find a place to fit in, and to discover who she really is deep down. She's always felt like there was a part of her missing.

Her parents seem to become more alien and cold everyday...

So to escape the pain she immerses herself in her painting. "I am a surgeon when I put on my smock. I lay out my brushes like scalpels. I turn on the scratchy record player, and the voice of another artist fills the room, singing extra colors."

She begins to question her parents when she finds an old present given to her by a stranger long ago. Could this present be from her real father? For years all her friends thought she was crazy about her wild adoption theories. But finding this gift is now some secret, solid proof that maybe she isn't crazy after all. She knew there must be something more than the alcoholic, abusive father who has raised her.

Harley starts taking risks, seeking refuge in wild and risky behavior. "I take a sip. Fire. It tastes like fire. It splashes over my scream and douses it with a hiss. Inside I can no longer feel my scream. It is not peace but, it is something." She gets into loads of trouble...but she won't stop until she finds out the truth. She dreams of going to New York and painting in the parks. Harley doesn't know it, but what little comfort she has left is about to be taken from her. All the hard lessons of life come tumbling at her, and Harley feels like she'll never be able to fix the broken pieces inside herself again.

With one last attempt for inner peace and to find out who she really is, she travels to New York against her parents' wishes, to seek out this mystery man who gave her a present so long ago.

What she finds changes her life forever.

Anyone can relate to this book. There are a number of different passages where you'll find yourself feeling exactly how Harley feels. It is one of the best real-to-life teenage based books I have read in a while. Honest and funny, this book reaches out and touches everyone who's ever felt just a little out of place and longing to belong. Harley will capture your heart, and keep you turning the pages until the last line is read!

published by Winslow Press
248 pages