Dare Me

Gr 8 Up—Ben and his two friends want an epic senior year, so they decide to complete a series of dares and post videos of them online. The boys cover their faces and call themselves the Daredevil Crew. Their first videos go viral, and suddenly they are the talk of the school. A sponsor appears with lots of cash to pay them, but wants each stunt to be more dangerous. The feats start to interfere with life rather than enhance it. School and the authorities try to find out who belongs to the Daredevil Crew, and Alexia, a girl Ben has known and cared about for many years, gets mixed up in the violence. His falling grades and his family's financial problems mean going to college may no longer be an option. The teen tries his best to deal with his situation while questioning all the reasons the boys keep doing the stunts. The story culminates in a horrific fight that ends in serious and long-lasting consequences for everyone involved. The extreme dares will appeal to boys, but readers of both genders will identify with the fear and uncertainty Ben and his friends face. The story shows the aftermath of poor choices and how one person's actions can have a ripple effect far beyond what was expected. With timely subject matter yet universal themes, this novel should be a popular one.—Diana Pierce, formerly at Leander High School, TX