Reality Check

Peach’s Picks Rating


Title:
Reality Check

Author:
Peter Abrahams

Illustrator:
none

ISBN:
978-0-06-122766-0

Publisher:
New York: HarperTeen / Laura Geringer Books

Copyright:
2009

Length:
330 pages

Plot Summary:
Cody Laredo and Clea Watson, a high school couple, are in a committed relationship. Cody is a star football player from the wrong side of town who hopes to attend college on a football scholarship. Clea is an accomplished student and talented horsewoman living in an exclusive wealthy neighborhood with her father and stepmother. Cody lives alone with his father who does not pay much attention to him or his whereabouts. Two incidents bring Cody’s world crashing down; Clea is sent away to an exclusive boarding school in Dover, Vermont; and his knee is so badly injured during a football game that he will sit out the remainder of the season. There is no longer hope of receiving a football scholarship, ending his plans for attending college. With his dreams dashed he drops out of high school and works for a construction company. Thinking it best for Clea, he broke up with her before she left their home town of Little Bend, Colorado. Cody learns that Clea has gone missing from boarding school. He suspects foul play and runs away to search for her. Twists, turns, and danger meet him along the way. A villain sure to surprise all is revealed at the end.

Critical Evaluation:
The plot moves along quickly, keeping even reluctant readers engaged. The story is told in third person from Cody’s point of view. He is a believable popular teenage boy. His experiences and reactions are believable, even though it seems a little far fetched that he could make it from Colorado to Vermont and support himself. Clea’s character is not as well developed as Cody’s character, but readers will identify with her. Clea’s new boyfriend at boarding school is a stereotype of a rich, spoiled East Cost moneyed teen. The growth of Cody’s character is developed through experiences he has living on his own, making life changing decisions, and navigating through danger. Red herrings are sprinkled throughout the fast paced book. Chapters are short ending with just enough action or suspense to make it difficult to put down the book. The ending is rather abrupt and readers might need to look over the last few pages to be sure they have not missed a plot turn. The reader cares about the characters, especially Cody. The story satisfies the need that teens have for empowerment – solving problems on their own without the help of adults. It is a totally fun read.

Reader’s Annotation:
Cody’s girlfriend, away at boarding school, is in the news headlines as missing. He runs away to find her, but runs into problems more dangerous than a missing girlfriend.

Author Information:
Lives on Cape Cod In the town of Falmouth, Massachusetts
Married with four children
Born in Boston Massachusetts, 1947
Nabokov is Mr. Abrahams’ favorite writer
The work of Graham Greene influences his writing
Formerly a CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) television producer

Genre:
Mystery

Curriculum Ties:
Use in literature classes.

Booktalking Ideas:
A story filled with twists and danger with a boy deciding his own fate while he tries to save his girlfriend’s life.

The well-paced suspenseful plot will hook you from the moment you meet Cody, the popular high football star, and his smart girlfriend, Clea.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
High school

Additional Books by Author:
Behind the Curtain
Down the Rabbit Hole
Echo Falls series
Many more books

Challenge Issues:
Teen sexuality and language
Deal with challenge by having a challenge policy in place, selection policy in place (ALA policies). Meet with library administration if necessary. Provide positive review(s) from professional publications.

Why this work is included in Peach’s Picks:
This book received a positive review in School Library Journal and Peter Abrahams is a well-regarded author. It receives five peaches for being a good read with believable characters.

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Reality-Check-Laura-Geringer-Books/dp/0061227668/ref=sr_1_3_oe_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271523721&sr=1-3

References:
Abrahams, Peter. (2010). Peter Abrahams.com. Retrieved April, 10, 2010, from http://www.peterabrahams.com/

(2010). “Peter Abrahams (American Author)”. Wikipedia. Retrieved April, 10, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Abrahams_(American_author)