For nine year old Roger Stanton, the worst part about life in 1956 has always been being forced to go uptown on Saturday nights with his family to watch the people go by. He has always been content to let the adults worry about McCarthyism, atomic bombs, and backyard fallout shelters. Roger, though, is about to grow up in a hurry.



When David, a red-haired bully, moves to town and tries repeatedly to put Roger into the hospital--or worse--Roger's world is turned upside down. He begins to draw the attention of Malcolm Harris, a mentally ill war veteran who lives next door. To make matters worse, he also ends up in the classroom of Mrs. Oliver, a notoriously mean teacher who has a special hatred for him.



Reluctant to confide in his family, Roger will spend the longest year of his life trying on his own to avoid the neighbor, endure the abuse at school, and survive the bully. He will learn firsthand about murder and suicide before discovering David's motive and meeting him for one last confrontation.

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