It's Hard to Go Home — Lori Soard

Millie Jackson loves the freedom of running through the wooded mountains of wild and beautiful West Virginia. It sure beats going home to the strict mother who reins over her home. She has her two cousins, Josh and Aaron for company. And she can avoid Old Man Taylor, who scares her a little with his daily treks up a steep mountain to visit the grave of his wife. When Josh is killed in a car accident, Millie has a hard time accepting his death. At first she refuses to believe he is dead. It is surely a horrible mistake. But the cold, harsh reality starts to sink in and she realizes that he is truly gone forever. She never told him how much she loved him. As Millie defies her parents and takes daily treks to the grave, she becomes further involved with Renee, who begins urging her to try some drugs that will "make her feel better." Will Millie make the right choice that honors Josh's memory? Or, will she spiral down until there is no return?