Forgiving Judas

Stoneridge is like any other small town: placid, church-oriented, and predictable. Neal McLean is an average teen—he lifts weights, hangs out with friends, goes fishing with his dad, and looks forward to college as his ticket out of Stoneridge. Neal's predictable world is uprooted by the death of his best friend, Brandt Stradleiter.

Though the death is officially ruled accidental, Neal is haunted by the possibility of suicide. Brandt’s death has reduced Neal’s life into a narrow, self-torturous existence of isolation, reflection, nightmares, penance, guilt and shame. Ultimately, Neal must come to his own rescue and find a way to make his own peace.