The Black Sunshine of Goody Pryne

Stevie Walters is the short, geeky kid with the tragic past #150; in his case, the death of his father caused by a drunk driver. His mother is an emotional mess, and Steve isn't much better. The kids at school avoid him. All except Goody Pryne #150; a big, loud-mouthed, and smart bully. Her troubled home life with a bitter mother is no better than Steve's, but at school she shines, full of bristling energy and, sometimes, anger. She takes some of her anger out on Steve, even punching him hard enough to send him to the hospital. But he's still drawn to her. When Goody and her best friend Josie’s relationship turns sour, Steve is torn between loyalties #150; should he look after himself, or stay true to Goody? Complicating matters is his attraction to Josie’s friend Tsula. The talent Sarah Withrow showed in her two previous novels is in full bloom here, in a compelling story of real kids facing familiar but always difficult questions of friendship and family.