Celeste Cooper's father abandoned her family when she was an infant. She has the letter to prove it, and it sounds to Celeste like it was because of her. Now that she's sixteen, she has other things to worry about-much more than just boys and school. She's worried about her mom, especially since Celeste's older brother just left to fight the war in Iraq. Then, when Celeste's deadbeat dad returns, her family's world is turned upside-down.
While dealing with the ramifications of having a father figure back in her life, Celeste has to work on a relationship with her boyfriend, Brad. Brad is a dream guy. He's the star of the basketball team, and Celeste thinks they really have something special. The only problem is that Brad wants a physical relationship, while Celeste's Christian upbringing and the influence of her close friend, Zella, make her feel hesitant.
Celeste comes to find it isn't easy being a modern teen. She must learn, the hard way, that her actions do have consequences. The consequences affect not only her life, but also the lives of the people she loves. When tragedy strikes, will Celeste have the strength to go on? Will she lean on the God she adores and admires? Or will she shield herself, like Adam and Eve in the garden, fearful of His judgment?
