It's California in the 1970s. Mark may be shy but--despite his obnoxious older brother, his oddball friend, his run-in with hippies, and surviving a killer bee attack--he has a good, somewhat normal life. However, nothing prepares him for the summer of his eighth birthday when he develops a crush on his long-time family friend, Michele. As their friendship evolves, Michele shares that she is "sick" and slowly begins to succumb to her disease. Mark wrestles with how he can help her, and the possibility of losing one of the most important people in his life. Will the shadow of Michele's illness change his life forever?

Mark Hober enjoys writing in his spare time and wrote his first two books, one for each of his daughters, on their sixteenth birthdays. Mark has a wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters who have encouraged and supported his writing pursuit over the years. When Mark isn't working, he enjoys the outdoors, traveling, mountain biking and hiking with his wife.