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 a classmate disappears, who can Paulie trust—especially when telling the truth could be the most dangerous lie of all?

• High School Mystery: Mary Wells is a perfect student with a spotless record. When she vanishes, Paulie is driven to find out if she was abducted or if she was running from a terrible secret.
• Truth and Lies: For Paulie, telling the truth is a compulsion. But in a school full of secrets, his honesty might get someone killed.
• Psychological Manipulation: Someone in Paulie’s inner circle is a master liar, twisting friendships and turning trust into a weapon.
• A Dangerous Conspiracy: The search for Mary uncovers something far darker than a simple runaway case—a secret that puts Paulie, his ex-girlfriend Hannah, and everyone in Period 8 in danger.