Swear to Howdy

A funny friendship turns serious in this haunting book about secrets, lies, and what it means to be a true friend.

Joey Banks is a walking adventure. He's funny, daring, mischievous--and frequently in trouble. Or he would be if anyone found out about half the stuff he's done. Luckily, Rusty Cooper knows how to keep a secret. Joey is the best friend Rusty's ever had, and he's not going to mess with that. But then comes a secret that is at once too terrible to tell and too terrible to keep. A secret so big it threatens to eat them alive. What would a true friend do now?

Wendelin Van Draanen has written a richly layered book that offers a thought-provoking look at the boundaries of friendship and what it really means to be true.

"Triumph and tragedy mix in a compelling country tale of boys being boys." --Kirkus Reviews

"A poignant, thought-provoking novel that will strike a chord with young readers hooked by the boyish antics of the early chapters, later to be emotionally drawn to the honest portrayal of characters struggling with the consequences that follow every action." --Midwest Book Review

Wendelin Van Draanen is the author of many beloved and award-winning books. For middle graders, she’s written Swear to Howdy and the Sammy Keyes mystery series. For teens and tweens, there’s Flipped, The Running Dream, Confessions of a Serial Kisser, and Runaway. And for younger readers, check out the Shredderman quartet and the Gecko and Sticky series. Wendelin Van Draanen lives in Central California with her husband and two sons. Find her on the Web at WendelinVanDraanen.com or on Twitter at @WendelinVanD.