Fifteen-year-old Vernon Gregory Little is in trouble - and it has something to do with the recent massacre of 16 students at his high school. Soon the quirky backwater of Martirio, barbecue capital of Texas, is flooded with wannabe CNN hacks keen to lay the blame at Vernon's feet. Eulalio Ledesma, in particular, sniffs out his opportunity to make good at Vernon's expense.

As the net tightens and desire for a scapegoat reaches fever pitch, Vernon decides to leave town for Mexico and a date - or so he hopes - with the divine Taylor Figueroa. A hilarious, satirical masterpiece of contemporary fiction, this is a unique new voice from a highly unusual author.