The sirens blared, but all I heard was the sound of my heart thumping as I ran down the unruly hallways of Malcolm High School…I was on a mission.

Second chances prove to be lifesaving in Susanne Jacoby Hale’s moving debut novel, Shades of Gray.

Olivia Dalton has always lived for her job as a teacher in New York City’s dropout prevention program, even putting herself in danger in order to stand up for the students she believes in.

But after suffering several miscarriages and heartbreaking bouts of infertility, Olivia throws herself even more completely into the lives of the students around her as her fiercely protective husband, Tom, looks on helplessly.

While Olivia struggles to overcome her own losses, she develops a particularly strong bond with one of her students. Kiesha is funny, bright…and pregnant. Already at odds with her family, Kiesha soon reveals that she has officially been kicked out of her house.

The couple agrees to bring Kiesha into their home on a temporary basis. As the three begin to establish a cautious, although short-lived, routine, their time together ultimately results in second chances they never thought possible.

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