As his father's violent, controlling rages--and his mother's complicity--grow more oppressive, Zane counts the days until he can escape. He looks out for little Britt, warning her Be smart. Be careful. In fear for his life, he plays along with the insidious lie that everything is fine, while scribbling his real thoughts in a secret journal carefully hidden away. When one brutal night finally reveals cracks in the façade, Zane begins to understand that some people are willing to face the truth, even when it hurts. As he grows into manhood and builds a new kind of family, he will find that while the darkness of his past may always shadow him, it will also show him what is necessary for good to triumph--and give him strength to draw on when he once again must stand up and defend himself and the ones he loves.