• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 12 to 18

In seventeen-year-old Hannah Dresher’s world, every dollar counts.

When Hannah comes home to find that her alcoholic mom is wasted, she’s not surprised. But when she discovers that her younger brother, Seth, has disappeared with the overdue rent money, she worries they’ll be evicted or taken away by social services. Hannah knows she can’t rely on anyone but herself, so she has no choice but to chase down her brother. During her search she meets charming Eli, who offers to help her. But can Hannah set aside her pride and learn to trust him?

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Melinda Di Lorenzo has been writing professionally for more than a decade and is the author of Counting Scars and Racing Hearts in the Orca Soundings line. In 2013 she won Harlequin's annual So You Think You Can Write contest, which came with a publishing contract and launched her successfully into the romance world. With a BA in English from Simon Fraser University and a passion for classic love stories that feature strong (albeit sometimes problematic) female leads battling social constraints, such as Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights, Melinda infuses her books with flawed characters in real, relatable situations. Bullied as a teen, Melinda sought refuge in books. She now wants to bring that refuge to others, and she draws on her experience as the parent of three teens to craft stories that reflect modern struggles without turning those struggles into stereotypes. She also supports young writers and makes an annual creative writing scholarship donation to École Salish Secondary. Melinda lives in Surrey, British Columbia.

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• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

“This thrilling story is ultimately realistic but optimistic, with Hannah learning to find hope in the people around her…Reluctant readers will be engaged by this suspenseful and heartening tale.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Successfully presents an unfortunate, but realistic, view into what life can be like for some teens...A great read for a high school student who is looking for a book that...tells a great story. Highly Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials