Diplomatic Immunity

Gr 9 Up—Piper Baird is a journalist. At least, she wants to be. Her family's finances are in rough shape, and the only shot she has at a Columbia University scholarship is getting into Chiswick Academy. Against all odds, Piper is accepted. She hasn't even attended her first class before she bumps into Rafael Amador. The good-looking boy manages to land her in detention in their first encounter. It isn't long before she finds out that Raf is the bad boy son of the Spanish ambassador to the United States. Realizing that she doesn't have much time to prove her writing chops at the Chiswick paper, Piper sets her sights on an exposé of the privileged elite. She is disgusted by a select few who use their international status to seemingly do whatever it is they want: high-speed chases, drinking, and even elaborate flamenco dances in the middle of lunch. As Piper investigates Raf, she begins to uncover a much softer side of his personality. She becomes even more attracted to him when she learns that they both have younger brothers with autism. Then, all at once, he cuts her off. This fish-out-of-water love story between gorgeous Raf and gruff, opinionated Piper will appeal to many readers. Piper is initially an off-putting, cranky protagonist, but she is greatly softened as she deals with the smooth, too-good-to-be-true Rafael. The book's portrayal of the younger siblings with autism is handled with appropriate grace and thoughtfulness. The narrative does take a while to get to the core of its mystery, but it's hardly noticeable once Piper and Rafael start to grow close.