Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon stands accused of the murder of a shop owner and is facing life in prison if convicted. An aspiring filmmaker, Steve reveals his story in the form of a movie script complete with camera and stage directions. It turns out that Steve is completely innocent and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Other accused individuals in the case, who happen to be people with records, are trying to use Steve as a scapegoat, or at the very least, take him down with the ship. Steve is a good kid from a good family and winds up being found not guilty, probably largely in part to the testimony of his character witness, his filmmaking class teacher.
Even though this story is just the script for a movie, the details included are such that the reader can clearly visualize the movie playing. I found that my mind's eye began to automatically telescope with the camera directions mentioned in the book. Steve's story will appeal to nearly every reader because this is a realistic situation that frequently appears in the headlines and has the feel of many of the popular crime/law television shows these days. As contemporary realistic fiction it certainly provides an insight into teenagers' world. Some teens have friends, cousins, or other family members that are awaiting trial or in prison and this book will help them to understand what that is like. Readers will find that Steve is just like them, a kid who wants to be successful but is facing what seems like insurmountable odds but never lets go of hope.
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