No one is kind to sixth-grader Brendan Doyle: his foster mother, his teachers, his classmates, and especially the thugs who bully him. He takes refuge in books, drawing, carving, and daydreaming. When Brendan stumbles upon an old man near his tree house in the Virginia woods, he is quick to believe that this is the magical Green Man, guardian spirit of the forest. Brendan's need to immerse himself in his fantasy world becomes more acute, until he meets a girl with secrets of her own who may just keep his feet on the ground.Can two outsiders find the courage to stand up to their bullies—and face their own truths? Dealing with Bullies: Brendan has been running from bullies his whole life. Now, he might have a reason to finally stand his ground. Finding Your Place: From the foster care system to a school where he feels invisible, Brendan just wants a place to belong. He might find it in the most unexpected of places. A Secret Sanctuary: Deep in the Virginia woods, a hidden tree house becomes Brendan’s only refuge—a safe place to draw, dream, and escape the real world. Imagination as an Escape: Is the old man in the woods the magical Green Man of legend, or is he something else entirely? For Brendan, believing in magic might be the only thing that saves him.
