Framed in Fire

Plot Summary

Peter's been sent to Resthaven Hospital because his stepfather thinks Peter is emotionally disturbed and wants to harm his younger half-brother, Lincoln. But Peter loves Lincoln, and Peter is the only one who knows about Lincoln's unusual dreams.

And Peter's mom has been lying to him about his real dad. If his dad died, why can't he find any information about the fishing boat accident that was supposed to have killed him? With the help of Lincoln and some friends from Resthaven, Peter begins a journey that could change his life forever.

Awards

1999 SSLI Honor Book - Language Arts - 7-12 Novels; 2001-2002 Golden Sower Award Master List - YA; 2001-2002 Mark Twain Award Master List; 2002-2003 Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master List - grades 6-8

Reviews

"Patneaude's story has enough tension and suspense to keep the pages turning. The book tackles many serious issues, including parental kidnapping, ADD, blended families, and teenage depression. The characters are well rounded enough to remain believable. This story of a teen in search of his identity is a good addition for most collections." School Library Journal

"The story's mix of fast-paced action, psychological drama and family conflict, all spiced with a pinch of the paranormal, has mass appeal." Publishers Weekly

"The pacing is swift and the reading easy, however, Peter's first person narration offers readers the distinct pleasure of empathizing with his being cruelly misunderstood and unfairly disposed of."
The Bulletin

"...there's more than enough suspense in the fast-aced narrative to keep [the readers] entertained."
Kirkus Reviews

"This is a realistic, suspenseful story that will capture readers' attention and keep them moving on to the next chapter."
Children's Literature

Associated Keywords
boy, stepfathers, stepfather, boys, stepfamily, stepfamilies, novel