Prey

February 11, 2008
McDaniel (Don't Die, My Love
) forsakes her typical weeper for a cautionary tale about a high school freshman seduced by his history teacher. On the first day of class, Ryan “locks eyes” with the stiletto-wearing, cleavage-baring Ms. Settles (“I feel heat”) and watches her bend over a desk drawer (“The sweaterdress hugs her backside, and I want to do the same”). Describing the same encounter, the teacher says, “I stare at him and the room seems to recede. A halo of light encircles him and suddenly, I know... he'll be the One.” The two become sexually involved and mutually obsessed, arousing the suspicions (and jealousy) of Ryan's longtime friend Honey, who wishes she were his girlfriend. McDaniel furnishes the souped-up drama her fans crave, and even the denouement has its soapy excess (Ryan, about to be reunited with the now-vilified and convicted Ms. Settles, asks, “Which of us is the predator and which the prey?”). Readers interested in a more sophisticated, psychologically astute treatment of the same subject should see last fall's Boy Toy
by Barry Lyga (Reviews, Sept. 3, 2007). Ages 12-up.

March 1, 2008
Gr 10 Up-McDaniel is known for her "crying and dying" novels, but this one is not her usual fare. Ms. "Lori-to-my-friends" Settles is about 30 years old and built like a centerfold. Her tight clothing and stiletto heels have made an impression on students and administration alike, but especially on Ryan Piccoli, a handsome, motherless freshman whose dad is a traveling salesman. When he and his history teacher start an affair, it spirals into more than perhaps either of them had bargained for. McDaniel asks readers to determine who is predator and who is prey. To most readers, the answer will seem obvious, but the troubling final chapter, in Ryan's voice, may leave not only an unpleasant taste, but also a nugget of doubt. The story is packed with illicit sex, underage drinking, and frank adult situations, and it comes right out of today's headlines. Ultimately, it is about a broken trust in what is meant to be a respectful relationship. McDaniel's fans are sure to find it thought-provoking."Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta"

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