E. Davis Enloe’s debut novel takes place in North Carolina Appalachia, where a summer of escape becomes a fight for survival.

After a schoolyard fight, twelve-year-old Boyd is sent to his grandfather’s farm, where he’s expected to work the land, but Boyd has other plans. Alongside his best friend Roger, he embarks on an adventure to find an abandoned trestle and explore a secret cave.

Their journey is fraught with obstacles – Boyd’s overbearing grandfather, Roger’s abusive father, a corrupt sheriff, and even a dangerous cougar that seems to be stalking them. As the adults and institutions around him fail, Boyd is pushed to lie, steal, and risk everything for Roger’s safety.

When the boys finally escape to their secret cave, Boyd discovers that even triumph over evil comes at a price.