AUTHOR'S NAME: Kathy Cannon Wiechman
TITLE OF MS: HARD TO TELL
GENRE: YA Contemporary
word count: 43,000
THE PITCH: Both overweight Hannah and brainy TL are victims of school bullying, but Hannah doesn't think blowing up the school is the answer. The hate-crime murder of a twelve-year-old and a mysterious new girl play a part in fifteen-year-old Hannah's struggle for acceptance and her dilemma over TL's deadly plot.
PROLOGUE
KeShawna Wright reached into the cold case for a Diet 7-Up. She heard the footsteps before she heard the voices.
First laughter. Then the words. "Hey, Nigger!" More laughter. KeShawna had heard the N-word more than once, and Daddy's words sounded in her head: Ignore it. Walk away. Don't sink to their level.
The boys were older teens, maybe even twenty, checking her out over the top of the chip and pretzel racks. She didn't make eye contact, just acted as though the scuffed linoleum floor held her interest, as she carried the soda to the counter and plunked down her handful of change.
"Hi, KeShawna, how's your grandma?"
"Feeling better, Mr. Sloane. I'll tell her you asked."
KeShawna felt, more than heard, the two white boys step close behind her, and a shiver brought more of Daddy's words to her mind: If you don't feel safe, call me.
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