The Accident

January 1, 2015
Grades 8-11 The Port City High series delivers its addictive formula in its fifth title as Shane, Brandi, and Marisa begin the new academic year. Shane is bored and frustrated with school until she sees the new volleyball coachhe is young, hot, and gets her heart pumping way more than it should. Local rap star Young Dub has his eye on Brandi, but is it on Li'l Flo, too? And Marisa finally gets her quinceaera, but a horrible accident may end her modeling career almost as soon as it begins. It's a lot to deal with, but each girl knows she can count on her friends for support, no matter what. Readers get few breaks from the intense emotions, but the short chapters, multiple narrative voices, and accelerated pacing make for easy reading. Though awkward phrasing occasionally jostles against up-to-the-minute street slang, and only a few of the plotlines are realistic or relatable, this is a quick and fun bit of escapism with a big payoff that is well suited to older reluctant readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)