Holly Starcross feels alone in the world. Years ago she'd been wrenched from her familiar, comforting home to a new one with her cold, TV-star mother, friendly, producer stepfather, and, eventually, rambunctious half-siblings. Ever since, she's been haunted by sadness, by dreams, by vague memories of her father and of belonging.

Recently she's developed a new friend on the Internet -- someone named Zed, who knows how to speak to Holly's secret, inner self. And a mysterious stranger in an old, battered car is stalking her. Everyone at school is frightened by this prowler. A special meeting is called, the police have been informed, escorts to the buses have been arranged.

Holly is both fascinated by the stranger and scared. She wants to meet him. She doesn't want to. Are he and Zed somehow connected? Could he -- dare she think it -- be her father? And if she meets him, talks to him, will she find herself or lose herself?