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Spears, Kat
3 Reviews
(4)
YA
Sent to live with his preacher father in Tennessee, rebellious seventeen-year-old Luke is immediately targeted by bully Grant. When a freak accident involving both boys lands Grant in a coma, Luke must decide whether to maintain his victimhood or embrace the power shift. Spears expertly develops a protagonist with deep flaws, but the circumstances surrounding Luke's abrupt move from DC are maddeningly vague.
Reviewer: Norah Piehl
(3)
YA
After his half-sister dies, Jaz's world falls apart. His mother spirals into depression, and friendships with his soccer buddies crumble (Mario turns to drugs, Jordie pursues the in-crowd, and Chick is forgotten). When sparks fly with rich girl Raine, Jaz is hesitant; her wealth spotlights his hardscrabble life. Spears doesn't tie things up neatly here, offering instead authentic portraits of grief, poverty, and relationships.
Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger
(3)
YA
Jesse is good at making things happen--hence his nickname, "Sway." But when he's enlisted to persuade the perfect girl to fall for a seriously imperfect guy, he might have reached the limits of his persuasive powers. This debut, a modern-day Cyrano de Bergerac story, is bolstered by snappy writing and strong, diverse supporting characters.
Reviewer: Norah Piehl
3 reviews
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