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About The Book

Becca has plenty to hide and everything to lose—but with her future on the line, she’s willing to risk it all. This gripping novel from New York Times bestselling author Maragaret Peterson Haddix “will rivet readers” (Publishers Weekly).

Becca’s claim to fame is one she’s been hiding from for the past three years: Her father is a notorious embezzler, and when he was caught, his excuse was, “How else is a guy like me supposed to put his kid through college?”

Three years after the trial and imprisonment that destroyed Becca’s life, she and her mother have started over again and are living in a town where no one knows their secret. But as college—and its cost—looms large, Becca begins to wonder how they’ll afford it. And how she can apply for financial aid without divulging her secret? A local scholarship opportunity seems like a dream come true, but as the application process commences, Becca uncovers a chain of secrets that could destroy everything she’s worked so hard to build. But the truth could also lead her toward the future she’s always dreamed of…

About The Author

The Backstage Studio

Margaret Peterson Haddix is the author of many critically and popularly acclaimed YA and middle grade novels, including the Children of Exile series, The Missing series, the Under Their Skin series, and the Shadow Children series. A graduate of Miami University (of Ohio), she worked for several years as a reporter for The Indianapolis News. She also taught at the Danville (Illinois) Area Community College. She lives with her family in Columbus, Ohio. Visit her at HaddixBooks.com.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (November 12, 2013)
  • Length: 352 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781442442801
  • Ages: 12 - 99

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Raves and Reviews

"Ingenious and well-realized, and the mounting suspense will hold readers’ attention to the satisfying conclusion. Haddix’s many fans will be pleased."

– Booklist

"Haddix takes up a relevant topic for teens—the process of applying for college—and brings it to a new level of anxiety. The disastrous turns that Becca’s senior year takes will rivet readers and perhaps even alleviate some stress about their own (presumably scandal-free) application processes."

– Publishers Weekly

"Readers...will grab on and enjoy the ride."

– School Library Journal

"Once beginning this thought-provoking novel, female readers will find it hard to put down."

– VOYA, 4Q, 3P

Awards and Honors

  • MSTA Reading Circle List

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More books from this author: Margaret Peterson Haddix