Played
Grade 9 Up–Ian Striver is challenged to prove himself worthy of joining his Detroit high school's elite fraternity. He has two weeks to make plain and unpopular Kylie fall for him and sleep with him. Although he feels uncomfortable, he turns on his charm and asks her out. Kylie has never had so much attention before; though her friends try to convince her that Ian is a player, she develops feelings for him. When she finally has sex with him and tells him how she feels, his deception is accidentally revealed in front of the entire school. Ian has to come to terms with the man he is becoming, and try to convince Kylie to trust him again. This look at high school fraternities is reminiscent of Sharon M. Draper'sThe Battle of Jericho(S & S, 2003), though the conclusion is not quite so extreme. Kylie is not popular, but she has true friendships. Ian may be popular, but he has sacrificed his integrity to be so, and he is unhappy. It isn't until his sister points out that he is turning out like his absentee father that he realizes he needs to change. Davidson's understanding of teen motivations and language is apparent here. Though the topic is nothing new, the author's voice and the urban setting make it fresh and relevant to teens.–Stephanie L. Petruso, Anne Arundel County Public Library, Odenton, MDCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.