Every night, Zack is plagued by bizarre recurring nightmares-what if his dream world is trying to tell him something? Zack has never fit in with the rest of his family, and for as long as he can remember, he has experienced strange nightmares of a shadowy man. His therapist, Nancy, says these dreams are his subconscious mind's way of trying to reveal something, but Zack isn't so sure. After all, what could nightmares filled with tigers and apple orchards possibly mean? Luckily, he has the beautiful new girl at school to take his mind off his troubles. For his final assignment in art class, Zack is tasked with showing the darkest depths of his soul, and he knows that his nightmares are the perfect subject for a painting. But when a long-repressed memory from his childhood suddenly surfaces, Zack's life is thrown into turmoil, and he discovers everything he thought about his family is based on a lie. Zack must finally confront his past before he can have a future free of the secret that haunts him.
"Sweeney's absorbing drama reveals remarkable insight into family relationships and human nature."
Publishers Weekly
"Readers will be hooked from the very first paragraph."
Publishers Weekly
"The balance of family responsibility and achieving independence is examined and portrayed through realistic characters. Underlying themes of romance, sibling relations, and artistic expression are well integrated into the story and add to successful character development. Zack is a likable, albeit confused, young man to whom YA readers will relate."
