After the sudden, traumatic death of his mother, eight-year-old Nate now has only his father, Tom, a surgeon. Tom sinks deeper and deeper into his grief, using alcohol to numb his mind, and Nate begins lashing out in school, his grades slip, and it is only through Jessie, his next-door neighbor, that he has a single friend.

Jessie lives with his mother, June, a widow of five years. Born prematurely, Jessie has developed learning disabilities, but that does not stop him from being the fastest runner in school or being the kindest friend to Nate.

As the years move on, Tom and Nate grow in their grief, find new versions of themselves, and Jessie, ever present, is there to mend what is broken, and find his own voice.

About the Author

R.W. Rice is a physician living in rural Maine. He grew up in Nova Scotia and is married with one son. This is his first novel.