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. ( )

Like Walter Dean Myer’s Monster, On the Head of a Pin examines the effects of murder on those not directly involved with pulling the trigger. Andy, Victor, and Joshua are at a party in a hunting cabin. They have been drinking. Andy doesn’t mean to kill Helen. It was an accident. Joshua wants to bring in the police, but Andy is not going to allow Joshua to ruin his life over an accident, especially when Helen’s weirdo boyfriend, Michael, is the perfect victim. This story is framed between Joshua’s devout Catholic perspective and Michael’s Taoist outlook. While Michael and Joshua explore their own responsibility, readers see a more complete picture of responsibility—one that includes religion, peer pressure, school personnel, friends and family, and the effect that adults can have on teens. Recommended for high school readers. ( )

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! ( )