ON MY HONOR, by Marion Dane Bauer (Written by Sarah)

Joel is the kind of kid who would rather stay inside and watch TV.  Then there is his best friend Tony.  With Tony everything dangerous is like an amusement park ride.  He would see a waterfall like a water slide.

One day Tony decides to go climb the bluffs at a park called "Starved Rock."  When he tells Joel about his plans Joel doesn't get very excited about it.  Joel asked his dad if they could "go to the state park" instead of telling the truth about going to Starved Rock.  He said they were just going to ride their bikes to the the park and back.  To hi surprise his dad says yes and they go.  They are riding to the bluffs when Joel looks back for Tony and sees that he is looking at the river.  Joel rides towards him only to find out he wants to swim in the dangerous river below.  While in the river Joel challenges Tony to a race to a nearby sandbar.  When Joel looks back for Tony, he sees that he's not there.  Had Tony drifted away?  Was he hiding?  Was he playing a prank?  Or...was he GONE?