Bright Before Sunrise
Gr 8 Up—Jonah Prentiss, the new guy at Cross Pointe High School, spends his days alone and silent. Instead of attending this wealthy suburban school, he would rather be back at his old school in Hamilton, only a few miles away in distance, but on the opposite side of the universe in terms of economics. His mother remarried and moved the newly blended family to Cross Pointe during the last half of Jonah's senior year, and instead of trying to fit in, Jonah radiates anger and counts down the days until graduation when he can escape. He goes back to Hamilton as often as he can to see his girlfriend and old buddies. At his new school, he reluctantly befriends Brighton Waterford, a popular and spirited school leader at CPHS who tries to recruit Jonah to help with service projects. Even when he lashes out at her, Brighton continues to be sweet and friendly because, after all, that's what people in Cross Pointe do. Brighton and Jonah end up going to a party together and by the end of the night, they help each other uncover some of the deeper issues each faces. The story takes place all in one long evening and ends with a good bit of romance as the two find they have more in common than they first thought. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy realistic fiction and love stories.—Diana Pierce, formerly at Leander High School, TX