The Right & the Real

Gr 9 Up—Seventeen-year-old Jamie's infatuation with Josh, the hot teenage son of a disciple of the Right & the Real Church of Christ, causes her life to spin out of control. Because of him, Jamie ignores her misgivings about the church and begins attending regularly. She even talks her dad into coming along to services. By the time she realizes that "R & R" is a cover for a fanatical cult, it's too late. Her dad has been sucked into the fold and her refusal to pledge loyalty to the congregation causes a rift between them. She's kicked out of her house, alone and scared. But she's got grit and eventually lands a gig as a barista and finds a dicey motel room to call home. A talented actress who's had a rough childhood, Jamie is a sympathetic character; she's resourceful, but at the same time vulnerable. Readers will cheer her determination to finish high school and continue with her plans for acting school in New York City. Despite parts that strain credulity, the fast-paced and twisting plot will keep readers up late into the night. The added splashes of romance and intrigue make this title a sure crowd-pleaser.—Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA