This is a collection of short stories in which each of the main characters goes on some sort of journey that causes them to change in some way.
Characters are revealed through their speech, actions and thoughts. In �Bad Blood� Jared acts kind and helpful to Mrs. Anderson, but tells the reader that he is from a family of thieves and wishes to con Mrs. Anderson out of a very expensive car. We can see from his thoughts though, that he sis different from his father and has the possibility of leading a better life. Most of the characters are believable and realistic. For instance, Helene in �Tourist Trapped� is believable as a teen who has spent all her savings to go to visit her relatives and becomes angry because they are using her as a free babysitter. However, she comes to lover her young cousin and not mind babysitting him, which is also believable.
The stories are all interesting and read quickly. While most are character driven rather than action packed, the stories do move. In �Brutal Interlude� the readers will be on edge waiting to see if Lori will dump Lincoln and what will happen at the race track. In �Something Old, Something New� readers will anxiously await Darius�s arrival at the awards ceremony to see what happens. The stories each have identifiable climaxes and resolutions.
The stories take place in many different settings. All are in present day but range from big cities in Florida to small Midwestern towns to towns in Europe. All involve a journey, whether it�s a car ride to the horses races or a bike ride to the neighbor�s house.
The stories have a general theme that life can lead you to unexpected places and you never know who you�ll meet or what you�ll learn about yourself or others. Lori learns that she doesn�t need Lincoln (�Brutal Interlude�). Mick learns that he loves his adopted sister (�August Lights�).
The stories have varying styles. Some are told in first person (�Tourist Interlude�) while others in third person (�Mosquito�). All of the stories contain a mixture of narration and dialogue that is balanced well. �Original teen voices filter through each unique narrative, and natural references to American culture draw the reader into the text� (Voice of Youth Advocates 2003). In all of the stories there is a mood of anxiety. The characters are all anxious to see what will happen next and so is the reader. Most of the stories have writing that is more straightforward than descriptive or figurative. However, some of the journeys the characters take are more figurative than literal. For instance, Mick�s journey involves him accepting his adopted sister as part of the family and as someone that he loves (�August Lights�). �Brief notes about each author provide a transition between stories so that readers (who may feel the sensation that they are on a road trip themselves) can get their bearings and mull over unexpected plot twists before heading in a new direction� (Publishers Weekly 2003).
�Whether humorous or serious, the stories are consistently well written and engaging� (Booklist 2003). While all young adults will enjoy these stories, they may be particularly useful in teaching with reluctant readers.
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Booklist. 2003. Booklist. In Books in Print [database online]. Available from
http://www.booksinprint.com/bip. Accessed 5 December 2004.
Publishers Weekly. 2003. Publishers Weekly. In Books in Print [database online]. Available from
http://www.booksinprint.com/bip. Accessed 5 December 2004.
Voice of Youth Advocates. 2003. Voice of Youth Advocates. In Books in Print [database online]. Available
from http://www.booksinprint.com/bip. Accessed 5 December 2004.
