Out of Reach

October 22, 2012
Arcos's debut novel unfolds over the span of a single day, as 16-year-old Rachel searches for her meth-addicted older brother, Micah, who has gone missing. Out of the blue, Rachel receives a vague, anonymous email telling her that Micah is in the Ocean Beach neighborhood of San Diego and "not doing so good." Rather than, say, reply to the email to ask for more information, Rachel calls Micah's friend and bandmate Tyler, and the two drive down to try to find him. Several hours, one stolen car, and many conversations later, they're not having much luck. Rachel is a believable, if not especially appealing, combination of naïve and judgmental, qualities that soften only slightly as the book progresses. Arcos works in information about crystal meth (including its history and effects), genetic predisposition to addiction, and other topics, but the brunt of the narrative consists of Rachel's flashbacks and memories. This both aids character development and makes sense, as Rachel can't let go of the brother she knew, but it also greatly hampers the story's momentum. Ages 14âup. Agent: Kerry Sparks, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency.

October 1, 2012
Ellen Hopkins fans will find another look at methamphetamine addiction in this quick, realistic debut. When 16-year-old Rachel Stevens receives a cryptic email about the location of her missing older brother, Micah, a promising guitarist turned meth addict, she knows she has to try to find him. She enlists the help of Micah's former band mate, Tyler, and the pair secretly heads to Ocean Beach, Calif. As they roam the city's seedier neighborhoods, where stolen cars and drug deals are daily occurrences, Rachel's first-person narration alternates between their search and budding friendship (or possibly more) and recollections of her relationship with Micah, watching Micah slowly succumb to drugs, and her plight with a cheating boyfriend. In the process, she begins to tackle her anger, guilt and grief, to recognize her own weaknesses, and to form her beliefs concerning religion, relationships and even addiction itself ("calling it a disease or saying that addiction was based on predispositions or hereditary seemed to negate the personal choices it took for someone to become an addict"). Although more didactic and less raw, dramatic and compelling than Hopkins', Rachel's pursuit enlightens readers about the patterns and hazards of meth addiction, as well as the destruction of the family left behind. The final pages offer a hopeful conclusion to Rachel's even bigger search--for herself. (Fiction. 14 & up)

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December 1, 2012

Gr 9 Up-When Rachel's brother begins using crystal meth to fuel his music, she turns a blind eye, hoping the issue will resolve itself. Then Micah disappears, and Rachel is wracked with guilt. Could she have tried harder to help him? An anonymous email tips her off that he is in Ocean Beach and in serious trouble. Teaming up with Micah's former bandmate, Tyler, she sets off to search for her brother. It's soon apparent that this is not only a journey to find Micah, but one that Rachel must take to make peace with herself. At its simplest, this is a story about addiction and its far-reaching impact on the user and those close to him. It is also about love, family, and personal growth. None are new topics to YA literature, but it is how the author approaches them that sets this book apart. Rachel's voice is painfully honest as, more and more, she opens up about her life and how her brother's addiction is affecting her. A budding romance softens the knowledge that the search for Micah might not come to a happy or conclusive ending. A powerful debut.-Alissa J. Bach, Oxford Public Library, MI

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2012
Grades 9-12 Rachel's older brother Micah is using crystal meth, and he is lying, stealing, and hurting those who love him in order to feed his addiction. After Micah leaves home without a word, an anonymous e-mail warns Rachel that Micah is in serious trouble. So Rachel teams up with Micah's fellow band member, handsome bad-boy Tyler, to find her brother. Micah's disintegration is revealed as strangers tell Rachel exactly what she doesn't want to hear. Her sad journey is a route traveled by many who have lost a loved one to drug addiction. There is no happy reunion scene to anticipate, no reclaiming one of the most important relationships in her life. But, despite the heartache of the search, Rachel begins to see that her life isn't destroyedand that Tyler is surprisingly kind and caring. In addition to the fictional elements, the book deftly incorporates solid information about drug addiction, and teens affected by drug use may see their own experiences reflected in Rachel's story. Recommend this to readers of Ellen Hopkins' similarly themed novels in verse.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)