Marc
Solie is running for his life. He thinks he has killed a security
guard at the horrible, abusive detention camp he's been sentenced
to. Now he and his dog are wandering through the bleak California
wilderness, not sure where they are or even where they can go to
find safety.

As Marc walks and hitchhikes north, he thinks back to how he got
sent to Camp Heritage in the first place. Through flashbacks,
readers learn about Marc's little sister's death from leukemia, his
parents' difficult grieving process, and his own, sometimes
violent, attempts to get his parents to notice him again. Readers
also learn more about the horrific circumstances that led Marc to
attack the camp guard and flee for his life.

This storytelling style, gradually revealing details of Marc's
past, should be suspenseful, and at times it is. However, the
teasing repetition of past events, often stopping just short of
telling critical details, can cause frustration. Nevertheless,
Marc's story, especially his discouraging attempts to manage his
own grief after his sister's death, is compelling and
sympathetic.

Although this is not one of the more successful efforts from Edgar
Award-winning novelist Willo Davis Roberts, it will still keep
readers engaged and rooting for Marc to find safety and
forgiveness.

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