Stunned by his mother's recent death and appalled by the way his father sleepwalks through life, Jerry Renault, a New England high school student, ponders the poster in his locker — Do I dare disturb the universe? Part of his universe is Archie Costello, leader of a secret school societ — the Virgils — and master of intimidation. Archie himself is intimidated by a cool, ambitious teacher into h...