Gr 9 Up—Realistic and angsty, this debut novel brings readers into a world of teenage crises. Brielle and Ray O'Dell are siblings, and both of them are thinking about how and whether they belong in their respective circles. Bri is debating her friendships with the "popular" girls and how she really fits into that equation. Ray, bullied and contemplative, is suffering through an existential crisis and devouring as many texts as his Catholic school teachers can recommend while questioning his faith. Enter Cullen Hickson, a senior at the all-boys school that Ray attends who flings himself into the lives of the O'Dell siblings and brings them down a path of excitement and peril. The danger increases until one event spirals them out of the control. Strong has set this novel in the early 2000s, just a year after the September 11 terrorist attacks, and there are many references to this event as well as popular culture of the time that may distract some unfamiliar with the era but won't completely derail the reading experience. Some of Ray and Bri's choices seem hard to believe because they feel out of character, but often their actions are reflective of the issues they are facing at home. Some of their antics aren't always met with appropriate consequences.
VERDICT Gritty and dramatic, this is an additional purchase for large realistic fiction collections.
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