Craig and Tom have been friends since second grade, but that was five years ago and Craig is getting sick of Tom's out-of-bounds behavior.

When Craig begins to realize that he may have more potential in school than he ever thought, he starts to distance himself from Tom, who is both the class clown and the school bully. But severing ties with an old friend is never easy, and a foolhardy incident in a local park pulls Craig back into Tom's orbit. Faced with the realities of Tom's home life, Craig must determine the limits of this volatile friendship.

Gregory Walters was born in Hamilton, Ontario. When he was thirteen, his family moved to Texas. He began his teaching career in Dallas and eventually settled in British Columbia. He currently resides in Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast and enjoys his job as an elementary school principal. When not working, Gregory tries to find time to write, but his efforts are often dashed by his two attention-seeking miniature schnauzers, Lincoln and Hoover.

Gregory Walters' profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
• Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books

"A very heart-warming tale that is not preachy or sugar coated."

Resource Links

"Recommended."

CM Magazine

"The main character in this book is funny and engaging, yet gives the reader insights into the isolation and confusion that often plagues adolescence...Recommended for Grade(s) 6, 7 [as part of the B.C. curriculum]."

Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium

"An intriguing coming of age story sure to be injoyed by readers as Craig faces his fears, admits his mistakes and discovers what it means to be a true friend."

South Western Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group

'Readers will identify with the tensions that come as one person outgrows another and the need to move on."

VOYA

"Gregory Walters has given us an interesting character study and a satisfying, even engaging, story."

Deakin Newsletter