In this riveting coming-of-age story, one man turns abuse into power--and hate into love. From the moment he's born, Owen Crowley knows nothing but neglect and cruelty until he's finally rescued by a loving couple. But when tragedy strikes, he's left once again at the mercy of a violent, sexually abusive adult--and a long-buried secret that changes everything he thought he knew about his adoptive family and himself. Only one thing pulls Owen through the darkest times: books. As his extraordinary intelligence reveals itself, Owen begins using it to gain the power and love he's always wanted. He enters high school popular, handsome, and outspoken, attracting the attention of friends, teachers, and even a girlfriend. But he soon discovers the dangers of opening himself up to others. In the wake of a heartbreaking loss, Owen becomes close friends with a gay student named Shawn. As rumors spread that Owen and Shawn are more than just friends, Owen finds himself back in a dark, violent place he thought he'd left far behind. Many years later, Owen has done his best to rise above the past, using his keen intelligence to help abused children like himself. But with his thirty-year high school reunion approaching, he realizes he may finally have an opportunity to get revenge on the classmates who altered his life forever... What he finds instead is a stunning truth that could set him free.