Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim

Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY GREGG ARAKI AND STARRING BRADY CORBET, JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT, ELISABETH SHUE, and MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG

“Wrenching . . . powerfully sensuous.”—New York Times

"As searing and unforgettable as an electric shock."—Kirkus Reviews

As timely and compelling as when it was first published more than three decades ago, Scott Heim’s propulsive novel about abuse and its aftereffects in the lives of two teenage boys is an honest and searing exploration of memory, survival, friendship, and the power of truth -WITH A NEW AFTERWORD BY THE AUTHOR.

At the age of eight, Brian Lackey is found bleeding under the crawl space of his house, having endured something so traumatic that he has blacked out an entire five-hour period. During the following years he slowly recalls details from that night, fragments that hint at yet cannot explain what happened to him, leaving him to believe that he may have been the victim of an alien encounter.

Neil McCormick is fully aware of the events from that summer of 1981. Wise beyond his years, curious about his developing sexuality, Neil found what he perceived to be love and guidance from his baseball coach. Now, ten years later, he is a teenage hustler, unaware of the dangerous path he’s on. His recklessness is governed by idealized memories of his coach, memories that unexpectedly change when Brian comes to Neil for help and, ultimately, the truth.

"As searing and unforgettable as an electric shock" — Kirkus Reviews "Heim is breathtakingly unafraid to take chances, and the fact that he doesn't self-destruct in the process is one of the reasons he can rightly be called a promising author." — San Francisco Chronicle "Provocative and daringly imagined. . . an especially noteworthy debut." — Lambda Book Report "Wrenching . . . powerfully sensuous." — New York Times “Mysterious Skin remains one of the few works in literature or film to explore this subject without shame, sensationalism, or stereotype. It feels more relevant and urgent today than ever…. It doesn’t sensationalize trauma; it humanizes survivors.” — Psychology Today

Scott Heim is the author of the novels In Awe, Mysterious Skin, and We Disappear. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780063497498
ISBN 10	0063497492
Title	Mysterious Skin
Author	Scott Heim
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Year published	2026-06-18
Number of pages	320
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.