Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne

After the death of her mother, Cecelia must go live in the small California town of Seaview with her grandmother Maura, a well known mystery novelist. Maura's first novel was based on a real murder in the town, and the subsequent movie was even filmed there. Since then, Maura's fame has attracted fans from all over the world to Seaview. Cecelia barely knows her grandmother and has never read any of her books. 

Cecelia is quickly befriended by the top tier people in her new school and learns much about the town's history. Being the granddaughter of the most famous resident gives her surprising notoriety. Sadly, one the girls in her new circle is murdered in a near copy cat of the first murder. In both, the high school girls were found in the school swimming pool on the night of homecoming. One had been crowned homecoming queen and the other wanted to be. 

Cecelia becomes obsessed with finding the murderer even at the risk of getting in trouble with the sheriff. She also begins to doubt if the real killer was found in the first murder. 

This small town known for murder is full of deception and secrets. Cecelia checks motives and alibis and finds almost everyone in town is a suspect including her friends.  It's a fascinating story with twists and surprises. I keep reading teen suspense books, and I really liked this one. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 
 

Dead End Girls by Wendy Heard

I keep reading these 'teens in peril' books. Obviously, I am not the only one because they keep publishing them. So here's my latest one. 

Maude has been plotting to fake her death for awhile. She has a plan to escape her family and go live in London with a new identity. Before she even starts, her step cousin Frankie discovers the plan and begs to go with her. Frankie's home and school life isn't so great either. Maude is reluctant, but agrees. 

Maude's plan never included another person, so even though initially everything goes well it soon goes off the rails. At a time when Maude should have been on a boat to another country, she is running around Hawaii trying to figure out how to get both of them back to California. 

After an accidental death, things get really bad. Oh, did I say death? I don't think that's a spoiler. Once they've dealt with someone dying, their lives become less about running away and more about running. Maude tries to keep them on track, but nothing seems to work out. 

When reading books where teens are in danger, I usually have someone who I can clearly root for. Sometimes, they do questionable things but often as a response to the 'bad guy'. I was not always quite so sure with Maude and Frankie. The reader does not know their reasons for running away at the beginning. The story begins Maude who has already committed several crimes (fake passport, stolen IDs, etc.). Then that first death...Oh, did I say first? That makes it seem like there is another. I hope that's not a spoiler, either. 

I was fascinated by Maude's quick thinking in the face of unexpected circumstances. And ultimately, I did hope the girls were successful. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

Super Fake Love Song by David Yoon

Have you heard this before? A guy wants to impress a girl so he makes up something about himself knowing he cannot keep lying to her forever. If he is successful, it will all fall apart. The plot has been done before many, many times. What sustains this one is the humor and likeable characters. 

Sunny Dae tells the new girl in school, Cirrus Soh, that he is in a rock band. How does a self proclaimed nerd who posts videos on how to make cosplay accessories end up in such a lie? Sunny has a older brother (Gray) who is in a band. Cirrus assumes Gray's room (full of posters, guitars and cool clothes) is Sunny's. And since she seems excited about guys in bands, he goes with it. 

Sunny also tells Cirrus that he and his band will be playing in a contest soon. The band will have to be his two best friends (and fellow video makers) who now also part of the big lie. They are not happy about it, but support their best friend even when he is headed for disaster. 

It is no spoiler to say that Cirrus eventually finds out the truth. It is just a matter of when, and also how she reacts. Which I am not revealing here. 

In addition to the humor, I like this story for its positive portrayal of friendships and exploration of the brothers' relationship. Sunny's two friends are there for him through it all. They disagree and argue, and frankly, Sunny treats them badly for his own personal gain. But ultimately, they stick with each other. Sunny's brother is different story. Sunny idolizes his brother and wants them to be closer, but Gray is not a willing participant. It is the rockiest relationship in the book. 

This story could easily have turned into a wacky series of misunderstandings, but it strives (and attains) much more than that. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library's catalog and the author's site. 

 

A Shot at Normal by Marisa Reichardt

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate, that is Juniper's nightmare. Her parents are very firmly in the 'not' category. They live a pseudo hippie life and believe vaccinations put chemicals and poisons in your body. Juniper never thought about it much until she gets the measles and ends up in quarantine in the hospital. And her brother and sister get it, too. But it was really a tragic consequence of her interactions with someone else that pushes her to think that maybe her parents are wrong. 

Juniper and her family live in an old Victorian house across the street from the local high school. Juniper is homeschooled and wants to go to school and experience normal teen things (like football games, dances, the cafeteria), but she is forced to have 'kitchen table' school with her younger siblings and her dad as the teacher. 

She doesn't mind the organic food grown in their yard or the lack of television or internet. But at 16, she wants to have a social life with friends and maybe even a boyfriend. Too bad her parents will not listen to her. Getting vaccinated is where she draws the line. She is determined to get her shots even if it means hiring a lawyer. 

Juniper knows it is time to start taking responsibility for her own medical decisions. Yes, things get dark for Juniper, but she has new spots of light to keep her going. It is an interesting and timely subject with no easy answers, but it is worth going through it with Juniper. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 
 

Chasing Starlight by Teri Bailey Black

In the 1938, the glamour of Hollywood is in full swing. But Kate does not want to be there. And when gets there, it is certainly not all that glamorous. Kate would rather be in San Francisco living with her aunt and going to school where she dreams of being an astronomer (not a normal career for a woman in that time). 

Yet, here is Kate off to live with her grandfather, dashing film star of the silent movie era. Her parents are dead (an event that will haunt her for the rest of her life), and her aunt is marrying some man who despises Kate. Her grandfather's career is long over, so she finds him living in his run down mansion taking in boarders (wannabe actors, mostly) to make some money. 

Kate knows a proper young lady cannot live with bunch of strange men, but at first she has little choice. Her grandfather (who hasn't left the house in years) is happy to have her stay so he can know her better. And the boarders aren't so bad; in fact, two of the young men are quite handsome and charming in their own ways. 

As things start to look up, Kate finds one of the boarders stabbed to death in the kitchen. She finds herself suspecting everyone, so she becomes an amateur sleuth hoping not to get caught by the killer who may be living under the same roof. 

The focus of the story is the murder, but it is more than just a murder mystery. The old Hollywood setting is cool. Through Kate, we see that behind the scenes Hollywood is not so magical. There are several story lines happening that help elevate the characters beyond stereotypes. Kate could easily have been written as a snob (the refined woman forced to live below her standards), but she is more unsure of herself and where she belongs. Really interesting characters and story that keeps moving. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

Who Put This Song On? by Morgan Parker

Morgan feels like she does not fit in anywhere. She is one of the few black girls in her private Christian school (she's not sure she is really Christian, either). Her anxiety and depression puts her parents on edge. Last summer it became too much, so she tried to kill herself.

Now in therapy and on medication, she is trying to get through life. She has two good friends, Meg and James. But even they do not understand what it is like to be black in a school and society so focused on white people. Take history class, the teacher gives bare information about Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman. Morgan has to dig deeper on her own to find how awesome these woman were. And when she tries to bring up in class, she is labeled as difficult. She is tired of being the representative of her race when no one will listen to her even when she tries to be authentic.

Her parents think her mood swings are just that; something she can control if she would just try. When she explodes in anger and frustration, she is accused of being dramatic.

And then there are guys. Why do guys turn out to be such jerks? Not that Morgan thinks that; often she blames herself and feels that no one will ever truly like her (she's just too weird, right?).

I was first struck by the humor in this story. Morgan is genuinely funny. As the story progresses, Morgan's issues are revealed. She has deep insecurity and such low self esteem. She wants to be better, but struggles to find the balance. It's an incredible story that appears to be largely autobiographical. From personal experience, I can say there is so much truth about her anxiety and depression. I hope young people find this book and take some solace from it and know that they are not alone.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Let's Call It a Doomsday by Katie Henry

Ellis is prepared for something bad to happen. She knows anything could happen at anytime. Like, getting hit by a car. Or tripping and hitting your head. Or an earthquake. Or solar flare. The world is filled with danger, and Ellis thinks about it all the time. In fact, she has talked about the need to prepare so much that her mom, dad and sister are tired of it.

And maybe that's unfair. Ellis has anxiety (she is seeing a therapist). She can't really control her thoughts (no matter how much her mother wishes she could), so Ellis carries around her emergency preparedness kit ready for something to happen.

So the worst (best?) person to appear in Ellis' life: Hannah. They run into each other at the therapist's office, but they go to the same school. Hannah tells Ellis of her dreams (no, more like visions) where she sees the end of the world. Not easily convinced, Ellis eventually comes to believe Hannah and knows they must warn others. But Hannah is reluctant; she wants to find a person she knows who could help interpret the visions.

Ellis is a well meaning person. The coming doomsday (and it is coming soon) has reinforced her belief in the vulnerability of people. Even though she is always worried about her own well being, her first thoughts are to protect others. Her own intentions only cause her life to become more stressful. Her mom seems to hate her. She is socially awkward at school and church. There are times when Ellis seems to loose a grip on reality. But she is a sympathetic character that I wanted to be wrong and right at the same time. As someone who has anxiety, I could feel her struggle, and I think others will, too.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Going Off Script by Jen Wilde

Lately, I have read several books with strong young women characters who are tired of being pushed around and decide (although often reluctantly) to fight back even if it means sacrificing something important to them. And so we have Bex.

Bex arrives in Los Angeles to pursue her dream of being a television writer. She has grown up poor in a small town in Washington. She has landed an internship on her favorite show Silver Falls (full of teens and werewolves). Some aspects of the job are amazing - working with the show's stars, seeing the sets and possibly meeting her first love. Other things...Well, Hollywood is a tough place sometimes. The show runner, Malcolm, is moody and uptight and has no respect for interns. He is, however, willing to take the script Bex wrote and put his name on it. Ya, he is a major jerk of unspeakable proportions.

Included with the tension of her new job, Bex is struggling to come out to her cousin, Parker, who she is staying with. He is gay, too, but she doesn't want to appear to be imitating him (as she has been accused in the past). The fact that she has never come out to anyone only adds to her nervousness. But this is LA, and she's away from home. And there is this stunningly beautiful social media star that Bex meets at a party. Could Bex ever hope to have the Shrupty Padwal as her first girlfriend?

Fighting for your dreams is hard, as Bex finds out. She has people who support her, so she is not as alone as she sometimes feels. After all, you can't change the world all by yourself.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

Immoral Code by Lillian Clark

I started reading this because I thought it would be a suspenseful story of teens planning and carrying out a heist. It is that, but it is much more a tale of friends on the verge of heading off to college and ultimately going their separate ways; Each one has their own motives for risking everything to help a friend secure the money to go to MIT.

Bellamy has never met her father. He has lead a life acquiring great wealth and another family. Bellamy and her mother scrape by. When his fortune is figured into her financial aid application, Bellamy can't even get a loan. And she sure can't ask her father for money. So what is Bellamy to do?

In steps her best friend Nari, a total computer genius, who has an idea about skimming money from Bellamy's father's numerous accounts a little at a time. To pull it off, they need their other friends: Reese (artist extraordinaire), Santiago (future Olympic diver, he hopes) and Keagan (Nari's boyfriend).

What I like most about this book is how the characters are written. They are not teen stereotypes. We know their motivations and complexities. We also see them disagree about the illegal act they are planning. Keagan doesn't like it. Even though he goes along, his reservations never go away completely. The five teens have unique relationships with every other person in the group. They argue; they support each other; they rely on one another.

Even though, this story was not the intense caper I was hoping, I enjoyed it for the strong teen characters.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Your Own Worst Enemy by Gordon Jack

During a student body election that goes completely off the rails, all three candidates end up in the principal's office on election day.

Who are the candidates? Stacey has wanted to be the president for her whole high school career. She has been involved in student government and many clubs. A few weeks before the election, she is running unopposed.

Julia is new to school having just moved from Canada to live with her aunt. Her features make some think she is a Latina, but even she's not sure. Her mom is white, but she never knew her dad. Mom thinks Julia should be an individual and not worry about racial identity.

Tony only wants to hang out his parent's mansion (they travel a lot) and get high. School is of no interest. He is talked into running for president by a mo-hawk wearing freshman. Tony's platform is all about getting his favorite chocolate milk back in the cafeteria.

And then there's Brian, Stacey's best friend and election confidante, who falls for Julia the first time he sees her. His life is not complicated at all: friend to one candidate and hopeful boyfriend to another. Another force in the whole election is Kyle, Brian's little brother, who will do whatever he can to make Brian's life miserable. Oh ya, Kyle has a mo-hawk.

Even school politics can be messy. And when the stakes are high, even the most respectable student can dirty. For the reader, it's all fun and worth the time.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Two best friends separated for the first time. Ava stays in California to go to film school. Gen goes to Boston to study journalism. Some would say they are opposites and wonder why they are friends at all. Ava is uptight, anxious and struggles with issues that have caused her to take medication and see therapists. Gen is a free spirit, open to new experiences and doesn't shy away from meeting new people.

They promise to communicate everyday. So through e-mails and texts, we see their friendship strain against the separation as they each have new experiences that do not include each other. They tease, criticize, question, encourage and support each other. There is no question that these to young women have a strong friendship, but that doesn't stop them from fighting. As time goes on, the strain starts to show.

Neither Ava nor Gen is perfect. They make mistakes. They do things the other one questions: Ava joins a sorority (Gen: really?). Gen explores her sexuality (Ava: are you gay now?). There are guys and girls, kissing and sex, possible love and definite heartbreak. Truly, this first semester is a test for them. But it's amusing and worth the time.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the authors' site.

Literally by Lucy Keating

How much control do you really have over your life? Annabelle likes to be in control and organized. Just look at her color coded schedule. Lately, she feels less in control. Like how her parents are going to sell their comfortable house in Venice Beach because they separating. Selling Annabelle's house? Her parents splitting up?

And then there's Elliott, her brother's best friend who has been hanging around annoying Annabelle since they were kids. Why is she getting this vibe that there is now something between them?

Just to stir things up a little more: enter Will, the new guy in school, who takes an immediate liking to Annabelle. He is gorgeous and is just perfect for her. Maybe too perfect.

Changes are frustrating, but they are just part of life, right? Maybe for most people, but Annabelle is told that someone is controlling her life...

Author Lucy Keating visits Annabelle's fiction writing class and describes her new book. The plot is Annabelle's life - house selling, parents separating; the whole thing. After class, Keating tells Annabelle that she is just a character in one of her books. It has to be a joke. At least, Annabelle thinks so until other things start happening. The author wants to give Annabelle a happy ending, but it may not be the life Annabelle wants for herself.

An author putting herself in her book to interact with the characters is a bit meta and tricky. It could have easily warped into a confusing plot, but Keating treads carefully. It makes me wonder if the author sometimes feels like she is not totally in control of her characters and that her stories ultimately go in directions she was not planning.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

Marin is alone. She stayed in her college dorm (with special permission) over the holidays while everyone else went home. Marin feels like she has nowhere to go. Her mother died a long time ago while surfing and her grandpa (who she lived with) is gone now, too.

Marin lived in California until she fled to her college in New York two weeks before the semester started. She left abruptly and came with few possessions. She has tried to escape what happened back home. It is with mixed feelings that she awaits a visit from her best friend Mabel who she has not had any contact with since she left.

Something happened back in California that only Marin can explain and she has not been ready to do that. What will she say to Mabel? They were so close for so long and now they seem almost like strangers. In the middle of a snow storm, the two friends only have each other.

This is not a story of action; it is a sorrowful story of a lost young woman. Marin's story is peeled back in small bits. Her secrets are revealed slowly through flashbacks and conversation with Mabel. It is a remarkable story that is worth the read to find out why Marin left everything behind. To tell more would be unfair to you.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

It's Not Me, It's You by Stephanie Kate Strohm

What a fun story. The premise is one used before - a person tracks down ex's to find out what went wrong. In this case, the person is Avery Dennis. Just before prom, she is dumped by Luke Murphy. Even though she is the head of the senior prom committee, Avery decides she will go without a date; in fact, she is done with dating.

In her history class, Avery is assigned to do an oral history project about a historic event. What could be a better subject than her own dating experiences? Her teacher thinks there are many, but Avery is persistent.

Avery's story is told through her assignment using the input of her, her best friend Coco, other students (like that annoying Bizzy Stanhope), teachers, coaches, and, of course, the former boyfriends. Avery also enlists Hutch, her lab partner since freshman year, to help analyze the findings.

Avery starts with her first boyfriend from kindergarten and works her way through summer camp romances, vacation flings, and more than a few boyfriends outside her social circle. Avery is smart and funny and obviously not a stuck up stereotypical popular girl. She is willing to see her flaws and defends herself when needed. Can she really discover why she can't keep a boyfriend? With Avery's determination, anything's possible.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Smash & Grab by Amy Christine Parker

Girl meets boy. Boy likes girl. Boy and girl rob a bank. OK, it's more complicated than that. Let's start with the boy...

Christian lives in rough part of Los Angeles. Even though he is a good student and gets accepted to college, he has not been able to avoid being involved with a gang. The gang takes care of his alcoholic dad's debts as long as Christian fulfills his obligations: robbing banks with his crew.  The crew (aka the Romero Robbers) stage hold ups and keep some of the money with the rest going to the gang leaders. Keep the jobs quick and small - get too ambitious and you get careless. That's how you get caught. But now Christian's boss wants a big job: breaking into a vault.

Lexi goes to an exclusive private school. She, her brother and their friends do extreme activities (like illegally BASE jumping from the top of an office building). Her life is pretty good until her father is arrested for a fraud scheme at the bank where he works. Her family's accounts are frozen and the school kicks her and her brother out. Lexi is so angry that her father's boss is probably also guilty but continues to live his luxurious life. She must find a way to take him down even if it means breaking into the bank to find incriminating evidence.

After a few chance encounters, Lexi and Christian have an attraction, but are suspicious of each other. Once they reveal their plans, they decide the best course is to team up to rob the bank - him to get money and her to get documents. They need each other, but they have different objectives that do not always mesh.

The story is involved, suspenseful and a fun exploration of a topic not often seen in teen books.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy

A giant asteroid is heading for earth. Southern California is the target, but the whole world will be impacted. The smartest minds are assembled in a NASA facility in Pasadena to solve the problem. With less than a month left, a young Russian physicist arrives to join the team. Yuri's mathematical skills are unquestioned, but since he is only seventeen he is often not taken seriously by his fellow scientists. That is most unfortunate when Yuri knows he has the best solution to stop the asteroid.

One day Yuri decides to eat lunch outside and finds a pretty young woman named Dovie. Having spent most of his life focused on physics, Yuri is socially awkward and does not know how to interact with other people his age. In addition, Yuri has never been to the U.S. and does not understand the customs (or often the subtleties of the English language). Fortunately, the artsy Dovie takes a liking to Yuri and invites him to her house. Dovie's hippie parents and wheelchair bound brother Lennon are welcoming but live a very different existence than Yuri's.

With the world in peril, Yuri gets to spend time as a regular teenager while simultaneously trying to convince his colleagues that his unique knowledge holds the key to saving the planet. It's possible his overzealous behavior will keep him from returning to Russia.

This is a nice blend of science and teenage uncertainty about their own future.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

I have started a few books assuming the gender of a character only to find out in a few pages that I was wrong causing me to rethink how I picture them. With this book, that's part of the point. Riley is gender fluid. Some days, Riley feels like a girl and other days Riley feels like a boy.

Starting a new school, Riley wants to go unnoticed. One problem is that Riley sometimes wants to dress like a girl and sometimes like a boy. Riley would never be able to do that - at school or home. So Riley dresses neutral, fighting anxious feelings and possible panic attacks.

Only Riley's therapist knows about being gender fluid. Riley's parents don't even know. It would be a particular sticky issue for Riley's conservative congressman father who is running for reelection. As election day gets closer, it is increasingly difficult for Riley to find a way to get out of attending campaign events - they only bring on the worst panic attacks.

Riley's attempt to be invisible at school does not last long either. Riley does meet a cool guy named Solo on the first day. But is he interested in Riley as a guy friend or a girlfriend? Riley is also taken with Bec, a girl who may or may not be flirting with Riley. But the new potential friendships are overshadowed by the taunts of star football player, Jim Vickers, and his snotty girlfriend. Everything Riley feared is happening again.

Following the therapist's advice, Riley starts an anonymous blog about being gender fluid that quickly finds a following. It is the blog that drives Riley and the story forward.

Many things in life are not as straight forward as people would like them to be including gender. This story reminds us that people need to be accepted for who they are and given the chance to find out who that is. Riley is a character you will not easily forget.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

Mercedes has sex with virgin guys. She wants to teach them so they will give their girlfriends a better first time than she had. It's not just physical instruction; she tells them how to dress and behave and where to go on dates. She is just providing a service.

She has to keep her sex life a secret (particularly from her best friend Angela) which is difficult because she has helped so may guys (even she is kind of appalled at the number). She thinks the boys will never tell anyone for fear of their girlfriends finding out. If it were to get out...her life would be over.

Mercedes' sex life is not all about virgins. She has a weekly Wednesday 'date' with her chemistry partner Zach. He wants her as a girlfriend, but she wants none of it. She likes their arrangement just the way it is.

Mercedes is just trying to bide her time until she can go to MIT next fall to study chemistry, but life is complicated. Mercedes' dad left when she was young and her mom might as well be gone to for the lack of attention (let alone affection) she shows to her only daughter. Mercedes at least has Angela, although it is becoming more difficult to face her. Angela started a prayer group that is only attended by Mercedes and Angela's boyfriend (who Angela won't have sex with until they are married).  Even the new girl Faye (who is gorgeous and seems to catch Zach's attention) is confusing Mercedes. Is Faye flirting with her or just wanting to be frieds?

Mercedes thinks she is in control, but nothing is as it seems. There is a lot more to Mercedes and this story than sex.

For more information, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.

Inherit Midnight by Kate Kae Myers

Eight people flying around the world to historic locations, solving riddles, tackling physical challenges - the latest reality show? No, it is Avery's life, at least until she or one of her family members wins this contest.

After a nearly successful escape from her boarding school, Avery is returned to the mansion where she grew up under the watchful eye of her Grandmother VanDemere. For Avery, the mansion was like a prison - no sleepovers, no dating, no leaving the house except for school.

Grandmother is obsessed with family history and preserving the name VanDemere. Avery's existence is a black mark on that heritage. Her father had an affair with the nanny and Avery was the result. After that her alcoholic father disappeared, so Avery grew up with only her grandmother and occasional visits from her snobby cousins who look down on her.

Grandmother Vandemere is not happy with her sons or grandchildren and decides the only way to find a worthy heir to the family fortune is to pit them against each other. If it means Avery doesn't have to return to school, she will try her best at the competition. She faces backstabbing, cheating and uncles more knowledgeable in family history.

With the family lawyer's attractive son at her side, Avery sets out to the seemingly impossible task of taking on the family she loathes. Avery is not prepared for the things she discovers about herself and her family along the way.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

Surf Mules by G. Neri

For surfers, it's all about the next big wave. Hitting the surf whenever possible to ride that perfect wave is a lifestyle. Logan and Z-boy never want to give that up. Just after high school (Logan graduated, Z-boy was short a few credits), they wonder about the rest of their lives. It's tough to make a living as a surfer, so they decide to become drug runners to make a lot of money quickly.

There are better ways to deal with your future plans than getting involved with drugs, but the opportunity presents itself at moment when their lives aren't exactly stellar. Logan and Z-boy just lost their close friend, Fin. He was an excellent surfer, but took a hit on a huge wave and never came back up. Logan recently fought with Fin and never reconciled. Also, Logan's deadbeat dad has his college fund tied up in debts. Z-boy has nothing to look forward to except the waves.

If the two could make enough money to buy a nice place near the ocean, they could live carefree for the rest of their lives surfing, smoking pot and meeting women. When someone connects them to a big time dealer who will pay them to drive a car filled with pot across the country to be sold, they see the possibilities of a bright future. They've never really traveled beyond California, but now they must drive to Florida under the guise of being young Republicans out to recruit for the party. Two inexperienced surfer dudes crossing the country on their own for the first time with a car full of illegal drugs, what could go wrong?

Even though we know these young men have made a stupid decision (not mention an illegal one) we hope they succeed. We want them to get back safe. They have long lives ahead of them and plenty of waves to catch.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.