Breaking Point

April 1, 2012

Gr 7 Up-These novels are aimed at reluctant and struggling male readers. Breaking Point centers on Cameron, who is sent to a camplike juvenile detention center after he is caught breaking and entering. There he meets troubled Brianna, and, under her influence, they formulate a plan to escape the Nova Scotia facility via kayak to the mainland, in spite of an approaching hurricane. They are not prepared for the storm's surge and Cameron is left to fend for himself after Brianna deserts him. In One Way, Kenzie is riding his bike the wrong way on a one-way street. As he is distracted by an altercation with a driver, he ends up crashing into his ex-girlfriend, Stassi, who appears to be brain-damaged after the collision. Detectives investigate the accident after a classmate claims that Kenzie intended to harm her. The teen decides to take matters into his own hands to figure out who is out to get him. The abrupt and seemingly random endings are reminiscent of a CSI episode, where plot twists come out of nowhere. Readers might be left confused as a result. Additionally, the theme of taking responsibility for one's actions becomes muddied because of the unexpected endings. That said, these hi/lo novels do focus on adventure and betrayal, which may be enough for teenage boys.-Lindsay Klemas, JM Rapport School for Career Development, Bronx, NY

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.