It's tough to put this novel in a particular genre, but horror and psychological thriller come to mind although it doesn't fit nicely into either one. Will and Asheley had a difficult childhood. Their father left when they were young, and their mother is an on-again-off-again drunk. She has been carted off to rehab again and Will and Asheley have the house to themselves for the summer.

Neither of them fit in well socially although Asheley has less difficulty. Will has a tendency to explode at the smallest thing and prefers to spend time by himself. He's very protective of Asheley, and this tendency verges on overly protective at some points and beyond that at others. This book will take a number of readers out of their comfort genre, but I think that's healthy from time to time.

The story is told from both Asheley and Will's points of view, and it can be interesting how differently they view the same situations at times. You can tell from the beginning, which is an interview of a sort, that something awful has happened, but you don't know what. Finding out what has occurred and how they get to the point where the story begins keeps the pages turning.

But it's the ending that whacks you over the head, so you have to reconsider everything you've read. It's dark, a bit twisted, emotional and heart-wrenching, but I'm glad I read it.

The story really shows the importance of an active and caring parent in a child's life. It's doubtful Asheley and Will would have had these same experiences if even one parent had more than a passing interest in their activities. But when they felt they only had each other to depend on...well, crazy things can happen.