Awards

• Winner of ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults (United States).
• Winner of ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice (United States).
• Winner of National Book Award Finalist (United States).
• Winner of New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age (United States).

Overview

Beloved author Rita Williams-Garcia intertwines the lives of three very different teens in this fast-paced, gritty narrative about choices and the impact that even the most seemingly insignificant ones can have. A National Book Award finalist. One day. One huge New York City high school. Three girls, headed toward one slow-motion collision. There’s Trina, a pretty, self-involved artist who’s sure she’s bringing beauty and color to the lives of everyone around her, regardless of what they really think. There’s Leticia, who skates by on minimal effort; she’s more interested in her cell phone, her nails, and gossip than school. And there’s Dominique, an angry basketball player who’s been benched for low grades. When Trina unknowingly offends Dominique, Dominique decides that it’s going down—after school, she’s going to jump Trina. Trina has no idea. And Leticia is the only witness to Dominique’s rage, the only one who could stop the beatdown from coming. But does she want to get involved in this mess

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9780063079281

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Reviews

“So well-observed that the characters seem to leap off the page, the novel leaves a strong and lingering impact.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Williams-Garcia makes the drama feel not only immediate but suffocatingly tense, as each tick of the clock speeds the three girls toward collision. Most impressive is how the use of voice allows readers to fully experience the complicated politics of high school; you can sense the thousand mini–dramas percolating within each crowded classroom.” — ALA Booklist (starred review) “Williams-Garcia deftly creates portraits of each of the girls as the narration moves from one to another, with the triangulation of view resulting in some fascinatingly complex characterization.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “Williams-Garcia has given her characters strong, individual voices that ring true to teenage speech. The ethical decision will get readers thinking about the larger issues surrounding community, personal responsibility, and the concept of ‘snitching.’” — School Library Journal “With a realistic look at girl–on–girl violence and gripping characterization, Williams-Garcia masterfully builds tension to the momentous ending.” — Kirkus Reviews “The latest novel from Williams-Garcia offers a piercing snapshot of three girls in an urban high school, their daily struggle to realize their hopes and dreams, and the threat of school violence to shatter them all.” — Horn Book Magazine “This nail–biter of a tale, told from the girls’ three viewpoints, has great insight into the lives of teenage girls and how they interpret and perpetrate bullying.” — Chicago Tribune “Teens who live the reality of girl fights and getting jumped every day will surely see themselves and their friends in these girls.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

So well-observed that the characters seem to leap off the page, the novel leaves a strong and lingering impact. -- <em>Publishers Weekly</em> <strong>(starred review)</strong> Williams-Garcia makes the drama feel not only immediate but suffocatingly tense, as each tick of the clock speeds the three girls toward collision. Most impressive is how the use of voice allows readers to fully experience the complicated politics of high school; you can sense the thousand mini-dramas percolating within each crowded classroom. -- ALA Booklist (starred review) Williams-Garcia deftly creates portraits of each of the girls as the narration moves from one to another, with the triangulation of view resulting in some fascinatingly complex characterization. -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Williams-Garcia has given her characters strong, individual voices that ring true to teenage speech. The ethical decision will get readers thinking about the larger issues surrounding community, personal responsibility, and the concept of 'snitching.' -- School Library Journal With a realistic look at girl-on-girl violence and gripping characterization, Williams-Garcia masterfully builds tension to the momentous ending. -- <em>Kirkus Reviews</em> The latest novel from Williams-Garcia offers a piercing snapshot of three girls in an urban high school, their daily struggle to realize their hopes and dreams, and the threat of school violence to shatter them all. -- Horn Book Magazine This nail-biter of a tale, told from the girls' three viewpoints, has great insight into the lives of teenage girls and how they interpret and perpetrate bullying. -- <em>Chicago Tribune </em> Teens who live the reality of girl fights and getting jumped every day will surely see themselves and their friends in these girls. -- Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

Author Information

Rita Williams-Garcia’s Newbery Honor-winning novel, One Crazy Summer, was a winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award, a National Book Award finalist, the recipient of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and a New York Times bestseller. The sequel, P.S. Be Eleven was also a Coretta Scott King Author Award winner and an ALA Notable Children’s Book for Middle Readers.

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