About This Edition

“I am a high school English teacher. During Covid, the school where I teach (shout-out to Central High School, no relation to the CHS in this novel) discovered a lot more students wanted to read eBooks than had previously been the case. Maybe some of you like reading on your phones. Maybe you’ve gotten used to staring at screens during the pandemic. Regardless, we found that the cost of those eBooks really added up. And here I am, the author of a book that’s all about how we need to fight back and defend public schools against the increasing attacks from those who see them as a source of corporate profit. I didn’t want this novel to be a burden on public schools (or public libraries which are also essential for protecting the people of a democracy). So I worked it out with my publishing company to provide this edition for free for public schools and public libraries. (There’s a nice advantage to being the co-publisher of the company: I only had to check with my co-publisher, Viveca Shearin, and no one else could stop us. Thanks, Viveca!) We know some people outside of public schools and libraries might sneak a copy or two. We decided it’s worth it. I hope you enjoy this book. It was a ton of fun to write. And there’s a lesson there: Standing up for you believe in isn’t always enjoyable. You get push-back, and sometimes that push-back can be awful. But sometimes taking a stand is a blast! You don’t do it for the party, but there’s nothing wrong with enjoying those bright moments when they come. I hope this book will be a bright moment for you, too.

“Trigger warnings: There’s some challenging material in this book. There’s a scene of an attempted sexual assault. There are references to people experiencing homophobia and racism. There’s one pretty graphic description of a beating. And there are lots of references to environmental disasters that will likely be the consequences of global climate change. I tried to handle these events in the story with care. I think the book is completely appropriate for most high school students and even more mature middle school students, but students who have experienced some of these traumas should be forewarned. There is a balance to be found between accurately depicting the horrors of the world, even an imaginary one, and exaggerating those horrors to make a point. I tried to find that balance, but it’s impossible to know exactly where it is for every reader. So please know there is no shame in closing a book if the content gets to be too much for you. You are more important than anything on a screen. Take care of yourself.

-Benjamin Gorman”

To purchase a print edition of the hardcover

• on B&N.com HERE

• or on Amazon HERE

or in paperback

• or get it on Amazon HERE

  [Due to so problems with our printer which are outside of our control, the current edition of the paperback is not available through other retailers, but a previous edition of the paperback can be found

• from IndieBound HERE

• or at Auntie's HERE

• or at Powell's HERE

• or on B&N.com HERE

or for Kindle HERE

And check it out on Goodreads HERE