
In the summer of '81, Jack has graduated from high school and is headed out on one last road trip with his friends Curtis and Bruce. He can't imagine how out of control things are about to get.
When Curtis shoots an old man who catches the boys trespassing, Bruce decides to go home and face the music--but even though Jack knows he may be throwing his life away, he can't bring himself to abandon his best friend. He and Curtis flee north, directionless and hopeless . . . until the ghost of Elvis appears in Jack's dreams, and things take a turn for the bizarre.
If the two boys head to Graceland, promises the King, all will be made right for them. And so, in one last quest for salvation, Jack and Curtis turn toward Memphis-- leaving cops, preachers, and all manner of strangeness in their wake.
"A gritty and propulsive debut novel. Running to Graceland gives me what I want from fiction: compassion and provocation." --John Dufresne, author of I Don't Like Where This Is Going
"A thought-provoking, well-orchestrated voyage with beautiful lines, strong characters, and unforgettable images." --Amarilys Gacio Rassler, award-winning author of Cuban-American, Dancing on the Hyphen
"Running to Graceland will have you contemplating loyalty, friendship, and that tenuous line that often separates right from wrong long after you put the book down." --Kim Hackett, award-winning author
"Through Jack's voice, loyal, lost, and yearning, Slayton unfolds the most challenging adventure of all: discovering the secrets of the self." --Lynne Barrett, author of Magpies and What Editors Want