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Look Inside | Reading Guide | Teacher’s Guide
Reading Guide | Teacher’s Guide
Nov 08, 2005 | ISBN 9780440419433 | Middle Grade (8-12) Buy
Dec 18, 2008 | ISBN 9780307547859 | Middle Grade (8-12) Buy
Buy from Other Retailers:
Nov 08, 2005 | ISBN 9780440419433 | Middle Grade (8-12)
Dec 18, 2008 | ISBN 9780307547859 | Middle Grade (8-12)
A funny friendship turns serious in this haunting book about secrets, lies, and what it means to be a true friend. Joey Banks is a walking adventure. He’s funny, daring, mischievous—and frequently in trouble. Or he would be if anyone found out about half the stuff he’s done. Luckily, Rusty Cooper knows how to keep a secret. Joey is the best friend Rusty’s ever had, and he’s not going to mess with that. But then comes a secret that is at once too terrible to tell and too terrible to keep. A secret so big it threatens to eat them alive. What would a true friend do now? Wendelin Van Draanen has written a richly layered book that offers a thought-provoking look at the boundaries of friendship and what it really means to be true. “Triumph and tragedy mix in a compelling country tale of boys being boys.” —Kirkus Reviews “A poignant, thought-provoking novel that will strike a chord with young readers hooked by the boyish antics of the early chapters, later to be emotionally drawn to the honest portrayal of characters struggling with the consequences that follow every action.” —Midwest Book Review
A funny friendship turns serious in this haunting book about secrets, lies, and what it means to be a true friend. “Rusty, I swear to howdy, if you tell a soul…” Joey Banks is a walking adventure. He’s funny, daring, mischievous—and frequently in trouble. Or he would be if anyone found out about half the stuff he’s done. But Rusty Cooper knows how to keep a secret. And Joey’s the best friend he’s ever had. But then comes a secret that is at once too terrible to tell and too terrible to keep. A secret so big it threatens to eat them alive. What would a true friend do now? Wendelin Van Draanen has written a richly layered book that offers a thought-provoking look at the boundaries of friendship and what it really means to be true.
Wendelin Van Draanen spent many years as a classroom teacher and is now a full-time writer. She is the author of many award-winning books, including the Sammy Keyes mysteries, Flipped, The Running Dream, Runaway, Wild Bird, Confessions of a Serial Kisser,… More about Wendelin Van Draanen
“Van Draanen deftly hooks readers with her very first sentence and keeps their attention with a series of hilarious stunts right up to the shocking climax. A deceptively simple narrative, funny at the outset but realistic in its consideration of some very serious issues.”—Booklist, Starred Review “Triumph and tragedy mix in a compelling country tale of boys being boys.”—Kirkus Reviews “A poignant, thought-provoking novel that will strike a chord with young readers hooked by the boyish antics of the early chapters, later to be emotionally drawn to the honest portrayal of characters struggling with the consequences that follow every action.”—Midwest Book Review
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