Out of the Dark tells the stories of teen Thorn MacDonnell and the five quirky teachers who open up their world to him.
Every day brings Thorn new reminders of all that he has going for him – looks, intelligence, and talent–but every moment, he lives with the reality that he’s also got HIV and leukemia. Foregoing the
luxuries of being a kid, Thorn strives to become a man before it’s too late. Socially awkward among peers, he sets himself on a satellite course around a close-knit group of teachers who play in a
bar band on weekends.
The teachers, cognizant of their responsibility to avoid favoritism, aren’t sure how to handle Thorn’s overtures. Their professional ethics meet head-to-head with their unwillingness to abandon a child
in need.
Out of the Dark is a novel by Dora McAlpin, writing as Ivey Banks.