The only person 16-year-old Tuff can really count on is his big brother, Dillon. Tuff has never met his father, and his mother spends her days in a drunken haze, sprawled in their tiny riverside house trailer. Only Dillon protects Tuff from a savage, unpredictable world and provides him with courage and affection. But when Dillon is brutally murdered while Tuff watches, the teenager's security dissolves into anger and hatred.
Tuff sets out to look for Dillon's killer, vowing revenge and hoping for bloodshed. But as he leaves, his mother yells out his father's name for the first time. That night, Tuff's search leads to a man who begins to show him that there are other ways to deal with grief and loss.
Nancy Springer has published over 25 books, including many award-winning titles for children and young adults. Among other awards, Toughing It received the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery. It is an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and an ALA Recommended Book for the Reluctant Reader. This powerful tale of a teenager's journey toward trust and hope will captive young adults and parents alike.
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