First his uncle is killed in a hit-and-run. Then his father dies suddenly. Everyone says it was an accident. Everyone says it’s over. But Trent knows better. At thirteen, Trent is stuck in a town where secrets linger longer than smoke from summer brush fires, and questions are easier to bury than answer. His mom won’t talk about what really happened. His aunt avoids the truth behind forced smiles and baked goods. And the more Trent asks, the more it feels like the adults in his life are hiding something. So Trent does what no one expects him to do—or wants him to do—he starts digging. With the help of his friends and his too-smart-for-her-own-good little sister, Trent begins uncovering cracks in the story he’s been told. A missing witness. A mysterious phone call. A truth no one wants a kid to find. But the closer he gets, the more dangerous and frustrating asking questions becomes. Because some secrets weren’t meant to stay buried…and some people will do anything to keep them that way. Desertion is a gripping coming-of-age mystery about grief, loyalty, and finding your voice when the truth is too big to ignore.