June 15, 2009
More trials are in store for the Ohio teens featured in Battle of Jericho
and November Blues
in this final book in Draper's trilogy. This time the focus is on Arielle—whose mother has recently married a wealthy, controlling man who treats his stepdaughter and wife more like property than family—and Kofi, a promising student whose chance for success is threatened by his prescription drug addiction. While fighting deeply personal battles during their senior year, Arielle and Kofi are drawn into school dramas concerning the inexplicable disappearance of student property as well as recurring fire drills, a prank that eventually leads to a deadly situation. As in her previous novels, Draper shows mastery in building suspense and articulating adolescent emotions and reactions (“Kofi could feel Dana tense up, in the same way some people reacted to a snake—with great fear and the need to put distance between themselves and the reptile”). If the shocking climax, which culminates with a school shooting, appears a little contrived, powerful final events will leave readers pondering the definition of heroism. Ages 12–up.
