On the Head of a Pin

by Mary Beth Miller

When Andy shoots a classmate at a party and refuses to contact the police, Josh is forced to become an accessory to the crime after Andy threatens him and the life of his sister, but after heeding Andy's warning and hiding the body, Josh becomes overridden with guilt--leading him to deal with a difficult decision that will greatly affect all their lives.

Genres: Young Adult, Suspense, Realistic Fiction, Thriller

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 2, 2006

Reviews

[Isaac]

Personal Review
I really enjoyed this book because of all the different characters. I also enjoyed how the author switched from character to character. So you could here about how they are dealing with the murder. I also liked the murder and knowing who it was and wondering if they were going to get caught.
Summary
Josh is at a drinking party with his friend Andy. Andy is the one who is hosting the party and has invited a lot of kids from school. Helen is there and her boyfriend Michael. Victor the bully from the school is there also. Helen and Michael head into a bedroom and have themselves a little alone time.
After a while everybody starts leaving and then its just Victor, Josh and Andy. Andy pulls out his dads gun and starts aiming it around the house. Josh tells him to put it away before somebody gets hurt. Andy points the gun straight at Josh. Josh tells Andy to put the gun down because it could be loaded. They here a noise upstairs and Andy points the gun towards the stairs. Helen comes out of the bedroom and Andy accidentally shoots her. She dies instantly. Josh tries to convince Andy to call the police but Victor convinces him to do otherwise and hide the body. So they hide the body and Victor tells Josh if he tells anyone he is going to kill his family. They drug Michael and he sleeps most of the next day. When Michael goes home hes wondering where Helen is and what happened to her. His dad is abusive and when he arrives home the dad is gone and its just his little brother home. Michael finds all of his paintings destroyed and violated by his dad. Michael leaves and promises to come back to his little brother. Michael is hitch hiking on the road and a old man picks him up. The old man gives him a place to stay and work. Michael is all worried about Helen. After a few days the old man had his newspaper on his desk and Michael sees that Helen's body is found and shes dead. The old man gets Michael a lawyer and Michael agrees to accept the lawyers help on one condition. That he helps get his little brother from his dad and the lawyer agrees. Michael goes back to the town he ran away from because the sheriff wants to talk to him and the old man agrees it the best thing for him. So Michael is loaned the old mans cabin. Michael hitch hikes to his old friends place Moshies. Moshies isn't there and he sees that Moshies yoused to be a judge but he ran away from his old life style and moved to this town to help kids. Michael goes back to where the cabin is. Michael wants to visit the crime scene so he hikes over to where the cabin is. Josh is feeling guilty and bad about the murder. He keeps seeing Helen's life less body. His school work is declining and he thinks god is angry at him. Hes already having a hard time because his sister is in a coma and machines make her breath. Josh starts throwing up and cant keep any food down. His health starts deteriorating. The doctor says its probably just the flu. Josh still goes to church but he sees that Victor is following him and making sure he dosent tell. Andy tells Victor that he better leave Josh and him alone or he will kill him to. Victor goes and kidnaps Josh. He takes Josh to where the cabin is to kill him. Victor starts beating up Josh but Andy Jumps in. Andy followed Joshes car because he seen Victor driving it. Josh cant do much because of his not eating after months but he tries his best. They tackle Victor to the ground but Victor comes up with a knife. They tackle him again and his knife falls. Victor rolls down the hill and Josh keeps punching and kicking him. Josh goes and stands on Victors back and Jumps up and down in triumph over beating Victor. Andy goes and gets Josh off of Victors back and they see the knife sticking into Victors heart. Josh goes to run away but he runs into a tree. Michael sees all this happening and rushes to the cabin where the murder happens and he calls the cops. Andy tells Michael about him killing Helen and Michael can finally know what happened and be at piece with her memory. The ambulance comes and Josh is unconscious. They put him into the ambulance and Andy goes with Josh and he admits to killing Victor and Helen. Andy gets sentenced to prison and Josh went mentally insane. They gave him pills so he could be in society. Michael goes to the hospital also and Helen's mom give him a few pictures and things of Helen's. Moshie goes and visits Michael and gives him a letter. The old man says Michael can still live with him but first he has to read Moshies letter. He reads Moshies letter and goes and lives with Moshie.
Characterization
Josh in the beginning of the book is really smart and bright kid with a promising future. He goes to school and church. He has tons of friends and is well liked. In the end Josh is insane. He doesn't have much hope for the future. Andy is about to go to college. He is well liked and goes to and hosts parties. In the end hes in jail and wont be out for awhile.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to teenage boys and girls. I also recommend this book to young adults because in parts of the book they could relate to it.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

When you open ON THE HEAD OF A PIN to read what the book is about, the first line that jumps out at you is "one thoughtless act can impact many lives." This is the basis for Mary Beth Miller's latest release, and it definitely holds true for the characters of ON THE HEAD OF A PIN.

Five teenagers, all as different as can be. There's Helen, the beautiful Homecoming Queen who didn't ask for her title. She wants nothing more than to finish high school and go away to college, so that she can finally bring her relationship with her boyfriend, Michael, out into the open. Her parents don't understand what she could possibly see in him, a boy already graduated from high school who spends his free time painting pictures. He's not the type of boy her parents want to see their daughter with, even if she does claim to love him. He comes from a questionable family, and he's definitely not the upstanding guy Helen should be dating.

Then there's Michael himself, a young man who spends all of his time either avoiding his father, taking care of his younger brother, Richie, working at a garage fixing cars, or taking his canvases into the woods to paint. Although he loves Helen and wants to be with her, he understands why her parents are hesitant about their relationship--after all, the tension at home is enough to drive anyone crazy.

Then there's Joshua, a boy who still torments himself over the death of his sister, Angela. He's come to the conclusion that he would be best served by becoming a priest, since he did make God a promise. But he's become increasingly worried about his best friend, Andy, who has started hanging around with Victor, a guy that gives Josh the creeps.

We have Andy, the boy who always has to be the center of attention. His stories get bigger the more he tells them, and there's always a mention of his parent's money in their somewhere. Although he's the one who inadvertently started the events that would change all of their lives, he's not about to take the fall.

And lastly the enigmatic Victor, the bad boy that everyone avoids as often as possible. He definitely has a hand in getting people riled up, but what is it about him that draws Andy to him like a moth to a flame?

Five teenagers, one gun, one disposed of body. One of the five is now dead, and another one soon will be. One goes crazy, one loses his mind with grief, and one will end up in prison. But how does this happen, to whom, and why? Pick up a copy of ON THE HEAD OF A PIN to find out--it's a great mystery for teens and adults alike.

[Padriac Hickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal opinion- The book had some really suspenseful moments as for the fight scene, and page 6. The book it self was amazing. There where some moments where it went slow but than it instantly picked backed up. This book is amazing.

Plot- We start the book off at a cabin party where their are a few beers, some tough talk, romance,and a girl getting shot. There were 3 boys, Josh, Andy and Victor, While Victor was showing off his fathers gun Helen startled him and the gun went off. The 3 boys try to cover up the cabin, nobody knew what happened to Helen until a farmer found the girls body in his forest, Helen, had a boyfriend named Michael. After the party woke up hungover on the way out of the cabin, Michael was told Helen ran off with some other dude since he got into a fight, which never happened. while facing his father Michael decides to leave his father and his brother because of how his father treated him, while sending letters to his "Girlfriend" but not receiving any back from here he got suspicious. He than gets a newspaper article about Heather being found dead. Now Michael confesses his side of the story which proves that he is not guilty. Michael wants to now go back to the crime scene to see the last memories of where he saw Helen, but instead he saw the 3 boys fighting As one boy falls he decides to get a closer look. As he gets closer the boy that fell died from a stab wound. The police in the end found out who the actual killer was.

Recommendations- Anyone who would like mystery story`s, I would recommend this to you. Probable 14 to what ever age you are.

[Aaron Greenfield]

I did not like the book very much. The book was long and started out slow. As the book went on it started to speed up and then it bacame to hard to understand.

[Laura Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocking book. I live in a small town and I can totally see something like this happen with my students. Sorbering.

[Nicole Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an after school special page turner.

A young woman is accidentally shot and killed at a house party. The only two witnesses are a sinister and overbearing out of towner and a sensitive religious boy who's already grieving another tragedy in his conscience. This latter boy, as well as the unfortunately suspicious boyfriend of the deceased, are the narrators of this story.

I don't see this story as having been very realistic. I think the investigation would have led to the killer right away, based on how sloppy the teens' cover-up of the murder was.

Still, some of the interpersonal developments in the story were subtly and beautifully told. The memories the boyfriend has of the murdered girl are sweet, and his eventual reconciliation with her parents is poignant.

The story places emphasis on trust and loyalty -- within families, friendships, romantic relationships and even with God. (The story leans a bit heavily into religious themes at times.)

Overall this was a quick, wholesome read, appropriate for middle school aged readers and older. The emotions and tension ran deep enough to engage enthusiastic readers, and the quick action at the beginning might be enough to draw in more reluctant ones.

[Jaxon Dickert · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Head of a pin is a book by Mary Beth Miller and it is about friends who go to a party and. One of the Characters Andy accidentally Shoots a girl and Andy decides not to call the police and decides they're going to hide the body and no one else is awake beside Andy, Josh, and Victor. So they have to hide the body and also live with the guilt of being murderers. Also, Andy threatens the life of Josh and Josh's sister if Josh tells anyone that the girl was murdered and where they hid her.

My thought on the book was it was a good book but it was a slow book and had lots of details about how. They lived with the guilt and how scared they were around the clock like they were being hunted down. Also yet they didn't turn themselves in even after the police found her body and they went her funeral and still didn't turn themselves in.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A psychological suspense from four boys' point-of-views. For fans of Author Beth Miller's AIMEE, in my opinion, ON THE HEAD OF A PIN is even better. The characters are complex. It shows realistically why teens would hide a crime, even though it was the result of a tragic accident. A couple of the boys experience guilt, and question God's role in tragedies. There is a spiritual aspect to the story. And the relationships show how peer pressure, bullying, and loyalty interact to keep silence perpetuating. Then there is the issue of trusting and not trusting adults. In all, so many facets of this story make it a compelling read, and one worth recommending to teens.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book was a good thing to read.
On this one day these 3 kids learned a Important lesson, don't try to correct or hide your mistakes. In the beginning, one of the friends in the story was at a party, and he had been drinking. He took out his Father's Rifle and started trying to show it off. He thought it was on safety and unloaded. He was Wrong.

They were Dealing with people Bothering them and hearing about something they did. Text to Text Don't have any Idea. You hear about a Party that had a bad ending to it in the News such as people getting Shot

[Cathleen Ash]

After the party at the cabin, Josh is praying more, not eating, puking a LOT. He still helps his mom turn Angela, his little sister, who's accident a few months ago left her unable to move, and according to the doctors, with very little brain function. He’s also trying to avoid Victor, who’s in his face big time.
After the party, Michael gets kicked out of his house by his father and takes off, but not too far away, because he still hopes he can rescue his younger brother from their father. The father that told them their mother walked out on them a long, long time ago. The father that lies. The father that hunts. The father that makes sure that everything in his world is just the way he wants it to be.
After the party, Victor is still is a thug. But he's added Joshua to the list of people to torment. And it's not your run-of-the-mill torment, either - it's very direct, very focused, and Joshua gets the hint: you talk, you die. So Joshua keeps puking and Victor keeps sending him dead snakes as warnings, to make sure Joshua doesn’t forget.
After the party, Andy is still pretty much the same. He’s still the center of attention, telling tall tales, jokes, staying in the spotlight. It was his dad's cabin where the party happened, and he made sure it was just the way he left it - well, except of course, for the gun. And Helen.
After the party, no one sees Helen, ever again. The police begin hunting for her, but are soon distracted by an arsonist who sets a home on fire. Luckily, no one was home, but there's no question - it burned on purpose.
Why would someone burn a house? Was it a warning? Did they know something and just weren't telling? And what actually happened at the party - after almost everyone had left? Everyone but Joshua, Victor, Andy, and Michael. And, of course, Helen.
On the Head of a Pin by Mary Beth Miller

[SraPanadera · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were problems here---a few unresolved details and questions, several characters that got mininal development when they needed more, but overall, I was very pleasantly surprised by this novel. It was quite enjoyable and very interesting as study of greif, guilt and secret-keeping.

Some questions readers may have for the author regarding unresolved details (SPOILERS):

Angela's diary: why even include it if Josh isn't going to finish it?

The letter Angela's mentions at the end and the rock that Josh and his dad find: Again, why even mention the letter if you aren't going to do anything else with it? Why bring it up as an issue and then have Josh find A ROCK instead?? What is with the rock??? I get the whole miracle/Catholic/affirming his faith bit, but the rock and the letter are so ridiculous, they start to detract.

Helen's under garments: why even mention that she didn't bother to put them on if you aren't going to tell what happened to them?? Michael only found a single sock. What happened to the bra and panties? And who took them? Andy or Victor?

Michael handling the gun when he woke up in the morning. This was very obviously a set-up on Victor's part. Why is it never mentioned again either by Michael or by the police?

What is Victor's story?? The other under-developed characters don't necessarily beg for more, but Victor is such a psychopath, you have to wonder where he came from. Ditto (a bit) for Michael's dad. Also the pharmacist who takes Michael in. What is his story that he is going so far to pay it forward?

I'm sure there are more, but these are the main details that bugged me. I think it's telling that I got into the book enough and that it stayed with me enough to think of them. Maybe 4 stars instead of 3.

[Juan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book about about a group of kids that go to Andy's dad's cabin. that it all starts of. They were having a couple of drinks, an as the night continues andy take out his dad's gun from the closet, and from that point im pretty shere we all know how its ganna end. Andy drops the gun an in the progress the gun lets out a burst of sound and the next thing u see is Mike's ,"friend" Helen looking at then, and in an instent she drops motionless. In fear Andy treatens joshua to help him. All this is going on while Mike is upstairs sleeping the thing is that once evrybody leaves the the cabin, Mike still has no idea what happened to Helen, so he goes of to Pittburg and gets a job. Joshua he in the other hand

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever read something so depressing you just want to throw the book at a wall? This is that book.

Seriously, it's depressing. And religious, which had me take away a star simply because it gets REALLY annoying, even if you believe in God I'm sure. I'm curious why the author would kill off a character she listed in the first few pages so quickly? Doesn't make much sense, but that's where the domino affect happens. The ending was sweet and unresolved. Michael should have found his brother Richie, -1 star. I recommend it because it's interesting what people will do to cover something up and all the different viewpoints were cool.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! This was just one of those books that I couldn't put down. It wasn't a great book but it was a very good book. You know, that type of mystery that keeps you reading so you'll finally find out how they handled this awful situation. I think working in the high school really made this book come alive b/c I could actually see something like this as really possible in this day and time. I hope it is a book that teens will read and think about every time they are at a party and they chose to or not to drink.

[Jen Barth · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Andy accidentally shoots and kills his classmate Helen, he and two friends bury her in the woods in an attempt to cover up her death. Suspicion soon turns toward her boyfriend Michael. The story is told from each boy's perspective. As the search for Helen intensifies, things begin to fall apart for each of them. This is a very intense read!

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting. I mostly didn't buy that the religious kid was SO religious, and that all these people's families were SO messed up. There are normal, nice people out there. But aside from the intense exaggerations, it was interesting and had you thinking. Kind of sad, but ended right, I think. It's an easy, short read.

[LibraryGoddess · Rating 4 out of 5]

When guns, alcohol and teens mix, it can be a recipe for disaster. This book is a gripping story of how kids can accidentally get themselves in big trouble, and then make it worse trying to get out of it.

[Rene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense book about an accidental shooting and the subsequent cover up Points of view from three different people talk about faith, God and forgiveness. It was an okay book, but entirely too preachy. I give it a B.

[Bess Ritenour Acey]

frinds at a party playing with a gun shoot a young girl named Helen and hide her body in the woods. They tell her boyfriend that is also a friend of theirs that she left with another guy but he knows that she would never do that to him.

[Shannon]

very compelling story. i recommend it.

[Sadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, I thought it was hard to get through, but it was OK.

[Hanna]

It was a really awesome book!!!!!! :) :) I would definitely recommend this to all of my friends! :)

[Mrs. Y. · Rating 3 out of 5]

creepy

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

deals with death and guilt