Crash Into You

October 7, 2013
From the outside, Rachel Young seems perfect, but she feels like a mess—prone to panic attacks and sure she’s a poor replacement for her older sister, who died of leukemia. Rachel tries to “feign sunshine and rainbows” so no one looks too closely, not even her twin brother. Isaiah is her total opposite, a poor kid from the foster care system who looks fiercely unapproachable: he’s all tattoos, piercings, and glares. When their shared loved of fast cars brings them together and puts them at risk, they find the one person who might understand their secrets and love them anyway. Rachel and Isaiah tell their story in alternating chapters, and while there’s plenty of family drama and car talk, what’s really effective is the sweet and sexy romance between them (the author’s fans will recognize some familiar faces, too). McGarry (Dare You To) loads the book with emotional and physical dangers, but her final plot twist veers into melodrama, distracting from the main story of two 17-year-olds trying to find a way to be together. Ages 14–up. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

October 1, 2013
McGarry continues her absorbing series about a group of street kids and their romances (Dare You To, 2013, etc.). Here, the romance follows tough-on-the-surface Isaiah and Rachel, a rich girl so shy panic attacks put her in the hospital. Despite her private school background, Rachel is every bit as addicted to cars as Isaiah, and they meet at an illegal street race. When the cops arrive, she and Isaiah flee together, sparking their unlikely romance. Rachel sees no problem in hoping for a romance with this tattooed foster-care refugee, only worrying that he's still in love with his former girlfriend, Beth, who left him in the previous book. Plenty of suspense arises from that first illegal drag race, when Eric, the hoodlum who runs the races, demands $5,000 from Isaiah and Rachel. The two decide to earn the money through legal drag races, but unlikely events continually thwart their progress. The author ties all of her books together by focusing on the same group of characters and introducing new romances. She displays a deft touch, devoting much space on the teens' feelings and physical encounters but balancing it with naturally arising tension and the difficulties each faces in his or her family situation. While this book's circumstances are not as realistic as in earlier offerings, McGarry's skill makes it all seem plausible. Although it's a bit overlong, McGarry's fans as well as those fond of realistic romances will greet it eagerly. (Fiction. 12 & up)

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December 1, 2013

Gr 9 Up-Isaiah Walker, 17, lives with his foster brother, Noah. With their financial situation dicey, he decides to street race one night to make some money to cover their expenses. He ends up meeting Rachel Young, a girl from a wealthy family who is out looking for excitement. Rachel lives a lie. With her family she pretends to like shopping, know nothing about cars, and be able to speak in public on behalf of her older sister who died of leukemia. But Rachel keeps a big secret from everyone. The panic attacks that once put her in the hospital still occur. And with each speech, they get worse. The only time she feels like herself is behind the wheel of her car or secretly working under the hood. The night Isaiah and Rachel meet, their lives start spiraling out of control. A street thug thinks Rachel turned him into the police, so the two teens need to raise $5,000 in only a few weeks to appease him. They both need to step out of their comfort zones and work together to survive. Swearing, gambling, sex, drinking, and drugs are all referenced but mostly occur in the background or between scenes. McGarry's fans will recognize characters from her earlier books. Told from both Isaiah's and Rachel's points of view, the story is reminiscent of Simone Elkeles's "Perfect Chemistry" series (Walker). This is definitely a book for romance fans.-Natalie Struecker, Rock Island Public Library, IL

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