Carter Daniels is a typical runaway. Unsure of who he is or where he’s going, Carter is only sure of one thing: his past is going to stay in the past. But when he gets pulled into the popular crowd at Mason County High School, he’s forced to choose: tell the truth about who he is or lie. Lie. And it seems to be working. His parents wanted to get him that crappy apartment because they’re never home. He crashed his car so he doesn’t have one. His weekends are filled because he has to spend time with his parents. But when Carter is forced to open up to an outsider because of an English assignment, everything changes. There is something he sees in her, an undeniable connection. There is a need to discover what lies behind those sad eyes. But will Carter be able to lower his defenses in order to get past hers? Will he let her in, or will he choose to stay broken?

I am done with laughing. I am done with breathing. Both need lungs, Which I am not using. So take my parts Though they are worn. Take what once worked. Leave me – torn. \—- Vani Carter is just beginning eighth grade at Silver Valley Middle. She’s got her friends, Brooke and Anne Marie, guiding her through the year that is most crucial And things seem to be going all right, until all the fighting starts at home. When Vani needs someone to talk to, she turns to Colton, the boy that’s destined to be popular. Over their lunch conversations, they become friends that care for one another unconditionally. However, as Vani and Colton’s friendship grows stronger, Anne Marie and Brooke become more jealous, and that’s when things change. Vani’s forced to endure, not only the pain of her parent’s constant arguments, but also the pain of Anne Marie’s mean comments and threats. When Vani is forced to choose which kind of pain is easiest to bear, will she make the right choice? Will she give in or will she fight back?

What once was broken, now is mending, And in the shadows I see the truth. Seeming perfect isn’t worth this. The smallest flaws, Even in darkness, will shine through. — Vani has come back to school in an attempt to face the past. Unsure of who she is now that everything has changed, Vani turns to her best friends for help. But as she stumbles through the confusion of her new life, she finds that moving on is more complicated than she first thought. The past is tangled with Vani’s future but, now that Vani has endured unimaginable suffering, she has sparked inspiration in other people. With new people approaching Vani to talk with her, she has to decide who is trustworthy; and when someone from the past shows up to apologize, Vani can’t decide what to believe. As Vani tries to figure out who is sincere, she finds out that wars don’t always end when the first battle is over. Anne Marie still haunts her and, if that is still happening, then there are people at Silver Valley High that still stand for what Anne Marie wanted: the destruction of Vani Tucker. Will Vani be able to stand up and fight for herself? Or will she resort back to the girl that tried to hide in the shadows?