Period 8

In this terrifying and provocative novel by the bestselling and award-winning author of Deadline and Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, a teenage boy tries to uncover what happened to a girl who has vanished from his high school. Was she abducted, or did she run for her life?

Paul "The Bomb" Baum tells the truth. No matter what. It was something he learned at Sunday school. But telling the truth can cause problems, and not just minor ones. And as Paulie discovers, finding the truth can be even more problematic. Period 8 is supposed to be that one period in high school where the truth can shine, a safe haven. Only what Paulie and Hannah (his ex-girlfriend, unfortunately) and his other classmates don't know is that the ultimate liar is in their midst. Terrifying, thought-provoking, and original, this novel combines all the qualities of a great psychological thriller with the controversy, ethics, athletics, humor, and raw emotion of a classic Crutcher story.

When the one safe haven has been infiltrated, who can you trust?

• Moral Dilemmas: Paul "The Bomb" Baum’s one rule is to always tell the truth. But after a single mistake, that rule could cost him everything—including the girl he loves.
• A Missing Girl: When classmate Mary Wells vanishes without a trace, Paulie is driven to find answers. But the deeper he digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes.
• High School Drama: Period 8 is supposed to be a sanctuary, a place to talk honestly. But a master manipulator is hiding in plain sight, turning friends against each other.
• Edge-of-Your-Seat Suspense: From a beloved, award-winning author, this is a story that combines athletic grit with chilling psychological tension, where no one is who they seem.