The punishment for a seventh-grade dropout runaway is probably pretty harsh, but Ash Barker doesn't care. She can’t waste time or emotions on anyone but her brother, Matt. They were placed in separate foster homes, so Ash runs away to find him. If she fails, she’s headed back to juvenile detention. Everything is going right on schedule until two kids, Dayna and Kevin, barge into her hideout -- which just happens to be in their house. She ditches the pair fast, but can’t stop thinking about those bruised, skinny kids. Dayna and Kevin live with abusive parents who force them to stay in their room most of the time. If they go to the authorities for help, they’ll be split up, too. Ash knows how that feels, and she goes back to help, taking the two with her. With any luck, they’ll all help each other along the way. Meanwhile, as Matt waits for Ash, he can’t resist telling his foster brother and best friend, Jon-Allen, about the plans. They stash food, earn money, and keep watch for the night Ash appears at their bedroom window. Ash is so happy to be reunited with Matt and to discover she’s falling in love with Dayna that, at first, she doesn’t worry about what they’ll do next. But life on the road begins to take its toll -- they have to resort to shoplifting and scavenging to survive. Ash feels a growing sense of guilt at the disaster she’s made of everyone’s lives. Can she somehow keep her newfound “family” together despite hunger and sickness? Or will she be able to find the strength to reach out for help?

No Turning Back

Instead, she said, “You’re my friend. And you and Kevin came with me to help me find my brother when I had nobody else. I was starting to wonder if I’d done wrong by taking you guys with me. Now I know it was the right thing to do. I know you’ve had a messed up life. From now on we’ll all have a great life.”


Dayna nodded. “You’re right. I haven’t wanted to kill myself since we left.” She gasped and ducked her head.


Ash felt the same overwhelming sadness as when Dayna had told her she wanted to jump out of her bedroom window. She put a hand on Dayna’s shoulder, just like she had then, wishing she knew what to say.


Dayna sat stiffly, but didn’t move away. “I’m not used to it,” she said, avoiding eye contact. “Someone else knowing and still wanting to be my friend.”


Ash nodded and wondered why she was sweating. “I’m not used to wanting to be friends with anyone. But you and Kevin are different…you can tell me anything, okay?”


Chapter 123