The Mission
Grade 10 Up—Kaden, 15, gets a letter from his older brother and best friend, mailed after he was killed in Iraq. Kenny urges Kaden to "go see what…is out there," so Kaden leaves his parents and girlfriend behind in rural Iowa and spends a wild and life-changing week in San Francisco with his cousin James, a successful author. Kaden is fascinated by the hedonistic lives of James and his friends, but disgusted by the selfishness and shallowness of their relationships. He's especially disturbed by James's unrepentant infidelity to his girlfriend, for whom he develops feelings. As Kaden immerses himself in their bohemian lifestyle and learns some shocking secrets about his own family, he comes to respect the unconventional life James and his friends have made for themselves. This engrossing and thought-provoking coming-of-age story follows Kaden as he discovers the complex motivations behind relationships and is forced to reflect on and take responsibility for his own actions. Set in lovingly depicted neighborhoods of San Francisco amid a cast of richly drawn characters, the novel pursues with subtlety and nuance its themes of relationships and responsibility. Narrated in the fusion of West Coast and hip-hop slang and raw language spoken by most of the characters, Kaden's account is frank and contains graphic depictions of violence, sex, and drug use. Music is an important element in the story, with characters frequently discussing and listening to hip-hop, punk, and metal.—Erin Carrillo, formerly at Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FLCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.