The Scheme of Things — Tim Parks

The Scheme of Things, a coming-of-age story with a thriller twist, poses the question: Have you ever had a secret? For young Henry Dodge, every day is an exercise in keeping his. Whether itís his sketchbook falling into the hands of his older brother, John, or saying the wrong thing to his parents Big Ed and Kate, which may tip them off to the fact that he knows he is different. He would rather spend his afternoons with his friend Kelley, perfecting their disco moves than join in with the neighborhood boys and their sporting ways. When Danny Woodson moves into the neighborhood and becomes his brotherís best friend, Henryís world is turned upside down, as his attraction to him is electrifying. In an effort to find a place to hide, Henry turns to TV, movies and music that provide him a great escape, a solace, which he canít get from the world-at-large. Unfortunately, the nighttime soap operas of the 80ís plant the seeds of a scheme that involves running away to find Danny in Los Angeles. But the City of Angels holds only devils in disguise, backstabbing and heartache, as Henry thinks he has found shelter in The Palace of King George and his court of supporting players. In a tale that is equal parts comedy and heartbreak, Henry struggles to find acceptance and eventually going against the grain to find his place in the scheme of things.