If you think I’m not normal, I’ll share Emily Dickinson’s words with you: ‘Which, sir, are you, and which am I upon an August day?’

Evens tells the story of fifteen-year-old Joey Davidson who likes Emily Dickinson’s poetry, reading, old movies, and music. In the summer of 2013, he moves to Arizona with his single mother. His father left the family when Joey received an autism diagnosis—a fact he keeps secret. He has spent his life without friends. But things change when he meets the Desert Rats, a platoon of six diverse boys from the trailer park. They want to be his friend and have secrets, too. Becca, a cute girl, also takes an interest in him.

When “Bud,” an elderly drifter, arrives in the neighborhood, relationships change. Bud hosts a camp out for the boys, but doesn’t invite Joey, sending him into a deep depression. For the next trip, Bud lies about taking the group, and Joey finds himself alone with Bud. Discovering the trap, Joey fights to escape and learns of a mystery in Bud’s background. One night, Bud’s trailer bursts into flame. Joey and Winkle, a member of the platoon, unsuccessfully try to save the man. Investigators suspect arson and homicide with the boys as prime suspects.

As Joey unravels Bud’s history, he finds events even more dangerous than the fire investigation. Without support from his friends, he enlists Becca’s help in research. Circumstances force everyone into life-altering decisions for which they are unprepared. The Desert Rats crumble. Joey’s mother battles aggressive cancer, and his Uncle Timmy seems untrustworthy. Becca’s family plans to move.

Joey finds himself abandoned, his greatest fear. His goal of being able to lead a productive and normal life seems beyond possible. How can he cope alone?

Evens is a contemporary suspense thriller for young adults which crosses genres to an adult coming-of-age mystery. Written in first person, the 86,000-word novel puts the reader in Joey’s autistic mind.

Read the sample chapters.