When Gary was 14, he shot his father to protect himself and his mother. His mother died and he was sent to a correctional facility for boys. Now a foster family has decided to take him in and given him a new chance at a normal life. But, as Gary discovers, the past isn't that easy to break away from. As the secrets of those around him become unraveled and the typical pressures of teenagerhood build, Gary struggles with what he knows he must do and the anger that bubbles just under the surface. When he finds himself in a situation that's close to what happened when he was 14, Gary struggles to make the right choices despite the pain they will bring to him and the people he cares about.
Impression:Off Track is an intense novel that highlights the damage left behind by abuse. The author submitted this to LP as a young adult novel, but, despite the age of the protagonist, it's not a book I would let my teenagers read--much of it is too graphic and violent. That notwithstanding, is an excellent story. The reader is pulled in and pulled along--you come to care for Gary, want the best for him, and want it all to work out for him. You cheer for him, cry for him, fear for him. And, above all, you want to know what happens next. It's not a book I would have picked up if I had found it at B&N--it's just not something I would normally read, but it is an incredible journey that will not leave you unchanged. If the content matter won't bother you (violence, abuse in a variety of forms), then I recommend giving it a look when it's finally released in August.
