Saving Lonesome Carsten

Kacey Harlow and her best friend, Carsten Hayes, have been inseparable since they met a few months ago at their junior high school. Both outcasts and victims of bullying, they find solace in each other and in their close friendship. Before long, Kacey recognizes that Carsten seems so lonely and withdrawn much of the time. She quickly suspects that his home life isn't great, but he refuses to let her in... Every time she asks him what's wrong, he shuts down completely. Concerned when Carsten misses school one day, Kacey goes to the school secretary who tells her there'd been unfortunate accident at his home. Then she learns he'd fallen down the stairs, breaking his wrist. Now he's in the hospital-recovering from surgery! But Kacey doesn't believe that it was an accident at all. Her suspicions grow stronger over time, but each time she confides in her parents, they dismiss her. She feels helpless in saving Carsten from his unloving and neglectful parents, but deep down she knows she must continue to try and advocate for him-no matter the cost.