A dying mother's wish compels a man to return to his Kansas hometown and help solve a mystery about missing teens, only to uncover their own secret past.The body of a teenage boy is discovered in a Kansas field. The murder haunts Donna—a recent widow battling cancer—calling forth troubling details from long-suppressed memories of her past. Hoping to discover more about "disappeared" people, she turns to her son, Scott, who is fighting demons of his own. Addicted to...

“Wrenching . . . powerfully sensuous.”—New York Times"As searing and unforgettable as an electric shock."—Kirkus ReviewsAs relevant and urgent as when it was first published more than three decades ago, Scott Heim’s propulsive novel about abuse and its aftereffects in the lives of two teenage boys is an honest and searing exploration of memory, survival, friendship, and the power of truth. This new edition features...

The First Time I Heard Cocteau Twins is Part II in an ongoing series where musicians and writers tell their stories of first hearing the music of an iconic artist or band. In this second volume (following the opening installment, which covered Joy Division / New Order), forty different musicians and writers remember their initial experiences hearing the seminal dreampop / post-punk band Cocteau Twins, a standout group from the legendary 4AD Records and favorite of radio personality John Pe...

The First Time I Heard David Bowie is Part III in an ongoing series where musicians and writers tell their stories of first hearing the music of an iconic artist or band. In this third volume (following the opening installments, which covered Joy Division / New Order and Cocteau Twins), forty different musicians and writers remember their initial experiences hearing the influential rock chameleon David Bowie, whose musical legacy now spans nearly five decades.Contributors to the Da...

THE FIRST TIME I HEARD MY BLOODY VALENTINE is Part VI in an ongoing series where musicians and writers tell their stories of first hearing the music of an iconic artist or band. In this sixth volume (following the first five installments, which covered Joy Division/New Order, Cocteau Twins, David Bowie, The Smiths, and Kate Bush), forty different musicians and writers remember their initial experiences with hearing My Bloody Valentine, the groundbreaking Irish alternative rock band, led by...

The First Time I Heard The Smiths is Part IV in an ongoing series where musicians and writers tell their stories of first hearing the music of an iconic artist or band. In this fourth volume (following the first three installments, which covered Joy Division/New Order, Cocteau Twins, and David Bowie), thirty-seven different musicians and writers remember their initial experiences with hearing the legendary Smiths, the influential 1980s alternative-rock band from Manchester, UK that featur...

The First Time I Heard Joy Division / New Order is Part I in an ongoing series where musicians and writers tell their stories of first hearing the music of an iconic artist or band.  In this first volume, forty-five different musicians and writers remember their initial experiences hearing the seminal post-punk UK band Joy Division and/or its offshoot, New Order. Contributors to the Joy Division / New Order edition include musicians such as Adam Franklin (Swervedriver); David Lewis...

THE FIRST TIME I HEARD KATE BUSH is Part V in an ongoing series where musicians and writers tell their stories of first hearing the music of an iconic artist or band. In this fifth volume (following the first four installments, which covered Joy Division/New Order, Cocteau Twins, David Bowie, and The Smiths), thirty-nine different musicians and writers remember their initial experiences with hearing Kate Bush, the brilliant, eccentric, influential, and immensely talented British singer/son...

A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY GREGG ARAKI AND STARRING BRADY CORBET, JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT, ELISABETH SHUE, and MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG“Wrenching . . . powerfully sensuous.”—New York Times"As searing and unforgettable as an electric shock."—Kirkus ReviewsAs timely and compelling as when it was first published more than three decades ago, Scott Heim’s propulsive novel abou...

Charting one boy’s search for companionship amidst violence and isolation in the mid-century rural South, with a new foreword from National Book Award winner Justin Torres.Nathan’s used to being alone. Drifting from town to town following his salesman father, he seeks solace in his studies when he can’t find understanding in his own home; his father is abusive and an alcoholic and his mother would rather disappear into the background than protect him.Enter ...

This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance.When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s ...

"An engrossing, often laugh-out-loud tale of two unlikely lovers" told in an epistolary style "to brilliant comic and dramatic effect" ( Publishers Weekly).A high school jock and nerd fall in love senior year, only to part after an amazing summer of discovery to attend their respective colleges. They keep in touch at first, but then slowly drift apart.Flash forward twenty years.Travis and Craig both have great lives, careers, and loves. But so...