Solo Stan

Gr 7 Up–Tucker’s new romance takes readers back to the world of Bobby Bae and Winter Park from Rules for Rule Breaking, where Bobby’s BFF Kai is about to have his summer turned upside down by the beautiful but complicated Elias. Kai is heartbroken when Bobby and Winter leave for the west coast. When potential date Emmy cancels her visit, Kai’s summer is derailed. Enter Elias, who has his own reasons to be miserable about the summer and just wants to get home to New York. The two find themselves joining forces on an overnight race through Raleigh, united in their desire to solve musician CYPHR’s clues to a secret concert. Although Elias has deceived him before, Kai can’t ignore the attraction. Does Elias feel it, too? And where will the clues lead them? Uneven pacing and forced scenarios will leave many readers feeling disengaged, but some will appreciate the perspectives represented here. Kai has considered both Bobby and Emmy in his quest to find his “twin flame.” The payoff happens as Kai and Elias kiss, but Tucker doesn’t venture into anything more graphic. Kai and Elias are described as brown-skinned.