• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Stevie Walters is still grieving over the death of his father -- killed by a drunk driver two years ago. He has a poor appetite and he doesn't seem to be growing. At home his mum is still an emotional mess, and at school the other kids avoid him.

Then he meets Goody Pryne. Goody is a smart, big, abrasive, loud-mouthed, astronomy-crazed bully. Goody and Stevie become friends -- the school losers who only have each other. She's mean to Stevie, puts him down, even punches him hard enough that his mum takes him to the hospital, but he is still drawn to her. Goody always tells him the truth about himself. But she won't talk about her own past, especially about her relationship to Josie. Former best friends, the two girls are now sworn enemies, but neither will say why. Josie is verbally vicious to Goody, who pulls her punches in return. At the same time Stevie is attracted to Josie's best friend Tsula.

When Goody and Josie's relationship comes to a crisis, Stevie must decide where his loyalties lie. Should he look after himself and be popular with his new friends, or stay true to Goody?

Sarah Withrow is the author of What Gloria Wants, The Black Sunshine of Goody Pryne, Box Girl and Bat Summer, which was shortlisted for a Governor General's Award and has been published in seven countries. She also writes short stories for adults, which have been published in The Fiddlehead Review, The Malahat Review, The New Quarterly and Descant. Sarah lives in Kingston, Ontario.

Sarah Withrow's profile page

• Short-listed, Manitoba Young Reader's Choice Award
• Commended, CCBC Our Choice