Dana McAllister couldn’t help wishing she was starting her sophomore year in the old brick high school in Boston instead of in this modern, new school. Nothing seemed quite right to Dana since Dad’s company transferred him, and the family had moved to California. The new house was different, the town was different, even the trees were different. Most of all, her older brother, Bill, seemed different. Back in Boston, Bill was a star athlete, a top student, the most popular boy in school. Now, Dad was putting pressure on Bill to fill out his college applications, to join the soccer team, to excel in his studies. But Bill, who was entering his senior year, was silent most of the time and seemed troubled and withdrawn. The kids at school all seemed nice enough. There was Ian, an amateur photographer who took pictures of weirdos for his scrapbook of “California Characters.” There was Sheila, who could have been good-looking if she weren’t always such a mess. There was Joannie, the pretty blond cheerleader who was only interested in having a good time. And there was Eric, the blue-eyed, suntanned surfer whose brilliant smile sent shivers of pleasure up Dana’s back. For a while, Dana thought things were looking up. She fitted in easily with the “in” crowd and, at the school dance, Eric spun her around the floor. But Dana couldn’t help worrying about Bill. Especially after she’d stopped in his room one night and Bill told her about the voices he heard, about the way he could see his name “B-I-L-L” spelled out in the stars, about eating oranges to keep himself from turning blue. What was wrong with Bill? Why was he acting so weird? Then came the fateful night when things got out of control. Bill looked wild and frightened. “Help me!” he pleaded with Dana. But there was nothing she could do except stand by helplessly as hospital attendants took her brother away. Heartbroken and confused, Dana found herself torn between her love for her brother, concern for her bewildered parents, and worry about herself. How would people treat someone whose brother was diagnosed as a schizophrenic? Would Ian want a picture of Bill for his “crazy” album? How would perfect Joannie and handsome Eric react? Would Sheila remain her friend? How could she face going through life as the girl with the crazy brother?
