para

A psychologically charged, literary debut about invisibility, identity, and emergence.

The Story

Young. The new name hasn’t quite stuck. For the veteran teacher’s assistant, it’s no big deal that her autistic student continues to call her by her old name. What is a big deal is his violence. After he scars her face, she’s had enough. Hasn’t she? Why still try to reunite this troubled child with his junkie mother? Questions April’s husband cannot seem to get her to answer.

“He’s special.” “No, He’s gifted.” one mental health break later. “She’s fired.”

Good. Now April can finally wake up. except, it isn’t april who does…

Dangerous Minds x Black Swan x Gone Girl

para comparables

  • Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

  • Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman

Durell Arrington sitting on a concrete ledge by a lake with mountains in the background, wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap, a varsity jacket, gray sweatpants, and white sneakers, with one foot resting on the ledge.

the author

Durell Arrington spent over a decade working in New York City's special-education system as a one-to-one aide — the kind of invisible, intimate labor at the heart of Para. An artist across multiple forms, he's currently based in Switzerland. Para is his debut literary novel.

Get in Touch

Tactile Therapy, a self-published action-adventure novel, is available at tactiletherapy.net.