WHEN CLARA STRONG started seventh grade, she had a plan. Blend in, do well, be strong, and get out. With her best friend Andi by her side, Clara knew nothing could stop her. She'd finally be able to break free from her troubled home life. But keeping a low profile was not as easy as she thought. Faced with too-strict parents, a brother who was never there, and the pressures of a newfound social hierarchy, Clara couldn't help but feel there might be a flaw in her plan. Even as she wondered if there was more to life than just surviving, she still had hope there might be someone out there who could help her. ETHAN DAWSON loved his job. Being there for his students, helping them work through their problems, and trusting his gut was what made him a good counselor. But when a seventh grader came to him with a hard-to-explain secret, he found himself leaning on more than just his instincts. He would have to move carefully to build a relationship based on the honesty and truth he would need to save her. FACED with difficult decisions, Clara and Ethan come together to bridge the gap between secrecy and trust. Each must explore their own belief in faith, and decide how much of themselves they are willing to share.