Full disclosure, I picked this book up while I was in the middle of binge watching Friday Night Lights and was caught up in the whole high school football team story. However, this book isn't much like Friday Night Lights (other than the football story), but the book is also so so good.
The main character in this story is Maggie who has just moved in with her aunt and uncle after watching her father murder her mother. Maddie is the one who told the police what happened and the guilt she felt caused her to stop speaking to anyone. She goes through life silently witnessing what is happening around her, but playing no role in her life. When she moves in to her new family, her aunt and uncle ask her cousin Brady to show her around and make her feel part of the high school life. Brady is part of the Lawton High football squad and he has told all of his friends that his cousin is off limits. But, West Ashby, Brady's best friend is also hiding something from his friends. The fact that his father is dying of cancer. West hasn't let anyone in on this secret because he doesn't want to admit anything is wrong. When Maddie and West are thrown together, West finds comfort in Maddie's silences. The fact that he can speak what is in his heart, and he knows his secrets are safe with her. But as these two start sharing their secrets, they find what kept them apart from everyone else is what pulls them closer together.
I loved this story- so much so that I have preordered the next book in the series for my Kindle for later this month. Both West and Maggie's pain is hard to read, but the way the support each other is beautiful.
This book has some mature bits in in, there is some talk about sex, but nothing graphic or over the top. I would feel comfortable having this in my grade 7 classroom, but you may want to read it first.
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