Life We Bury, The

College student Joe Talvert must write the autobiography of a person who lived an interesting life and when he meets Carl Ivorson at a nursing home Carl agrees to tell his story. Carl, convicted of murder and rape but released due to cancer, maintains his innocence and Joe decides to find the truth, but he must deal with his autistic brother who his mother neglects due to alcoholism and who her boyfriend abuses, and finds himself facing danger as he tries to unravel the case. This thrilling novel for Grades 10-12 can be used for writing, discussion, and role-playing to explore difficult issues of alcoholism, murder, rape, abuse, honesty, and truth. Social considerations noted.