Monday, February 7, 2011

Reality Check By Peter Abrahams

Cody Laredo is the star quarterback for his high school's football team plus he is dating the prettiest girl in school. Not only is Clea pretty and an honor student, her father is the most powerful man in town and he does not approve of Cody dating his daughter. In an attempt to keep Clea away from Cody, he sends her to Hong Kong for the summer to live with her uncle and then he enrolls her in an elite private boarding school thousands of miles away. The separation takes a toll on Clea and Cody's relationship and they break up after a fight. During a game, Cody tears his ACL which ends his hopes at a college football career and an education. The injury and the break up with Clea are too much for Cody, and he spirals into a depression. He eventually drops out of school and gets a job. When Cody finds out Clea is missing, he drives out to Vermont to help in the search. Cody is in way over his head, putting both himself and the investigation in danger. While “on the case” Cody meets Clea’s new boyfriend, makes friends with some of Clea’s new friends, and has a few encounters with the police. The ending is somewhat predictable however, Abrahams generates a fair amount of suspense that both teens and adults will like. There is a hint of sex in the book, but nothing explicit. There is strong language and some violence, so sensitive readers beware. Reality Check is a solid mystery from a great storyteller.

Check out some of these other books by Peter Abrahams:

Up All Night: a short story collection
Bullet Point
Delusion
Nerve Damage
Lights out 

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