Back in New Jersey, Rob moved through high school trying to mask his unhappiness with a haze of drugs and alcohol. Now he's forced to spend a semester helping relatives in rural North Carolina -- and he feels trapped. Even falling in love with well-disciplined Ellery doesn't stop him from going on a final, self-destructive spree. But the crisis makes him realize his actions don't exist in a vacuum -- and that permanent connections can offer comfort even to those who feel utterly adrift.
Back in New Jersey, Rob moved through high school trying to mask his unhappiness with a haze of drugs and alcohol. Now he's forced to spend a semester helping relatives in rural North Carolina -- and he feels trapped. Even falling in love with well-disciplined Ellery doesn't stop him from going on a final, self-destructive spree. But the crisis makes him realize his actions don't exist in a vacuum -- and that permanent connections can offer comfort even to those who feel utterly adrift.