Dane Washington doesn’t think he’s a bully. Some guys just need to be put in their place. But Twain High doesn’t see it that way, and Dane is on the brink of getting kicked out of school – until the boy with Down Syndrome moves in across the street.
Billy D. has the power to keep Dane out of trouble, and he’ll do it for a price. Dane has to help Billy D. find his missing dad. But Billy’s only clue is an atlas full of riddles and towns that don’t appear on most maps. As the boys unravel the clues and get closer to finding Billy’s dad, Dane realizes the biggest riddle of all may be the one Billy D. is keeping to himself.
- 2018 Grand Canyon Reader Award nominee
- 2016 Friedolin Youth Book Prize winner
- 2016 German Children’s Literature Award nominee
- 2015 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize nominee
“Lange deftly blends big issues (bullying, special needs, abuse) into a story of two imperfect, memorable characters.” – Booklist
“Lange weaves a beautiful and believable tale of friendship for readers of any age who can appreciate the challenges of everyday life.” – Library Media Connection
“[Dane] is no clear-cut hero and Billy D no flawless victim: Lange is too good for that. Both boys are fully-fleshed individuals with the capacity to amuse, delight and infuriate, and we teeter deliciously between loving them and wanting to bang their heads together in exasperation.” – Annabel Pitcher, author of KETCHUP CLOUDS (Guardian review)
“An excellent and original buddy story. As in Butter, Lange’s three-dimensional characters and nuanced perspective reveal that the biggest dead ends of all are simple solutions and pat categories.” – Nick Lake, author of the Michael L. Printz Award winner, IN DARKNESS