Desire Lines
Description
Sixteen-year-old Walker has discovered something potentially scandalous—two of his female classmates are having an affair. It is a secret he has no problem keeping to himself . . . until it comes to protecting his own reputation.
"It is difficult to close Desire Lines without the overpowering feeling that evil's caretaker can very well be an average young man who lacks the courage to do what he knows is right. This is a morality play as painful and rage-inducing as a personal betrayal. Take it personally. You cannot read this without getting as emotionally involved as if you were a player in the story." —Chris Lynch
Praise for Desire Lines
“[Examines] at a high-school level the phenomenon of betrayal in the aid of self-preservation. What's particularly interesting is that Gantos doesn't let his victims off the hook either.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“Gantos is explicit when demonstrating how a climate of fear and suspicion can be concocted in a community, and how insecure young people--gay, straight--can be tormented by it.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A tightly written first-person novel tells how 16-year-old Walker knows about the romance of two of his female classmates. While he understands the evil of intolerance--in this case homophobia in a rural community--he feels helpless, and tragedy ensues.” —The New York Times Book Review