Desert Crossing
There are some kinds of trouble you never see coming, like those thunderstorms that start from nothing at all. One minute the sky is bright blue and distant. Then, all of a sudden, it's dark and thick with clouds, pressing down right on top of you. The leaves turn silvery and twist in the wind, the air starts to hum, and the rain comes, so heavy and fast you can't even see. You almost never make it to the house on time.\ A dead body on the road—who is responsible and how will it affect the...
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There are some kinds of trouble you never see coming, like those thunderstorms that start from nothing at all. One minute the sky is bright blue and distant. Then, all of a sudden, it's dark and thick with clouds, pressing down right on top of you. The leaves turn silvery and twist in the wind, the air starts to hum, and the rain comes, so heavy and fast you can't even see. You almost never make it to the house on time. A dead body on the road—who is responsible and how will it affect the lives of three teens?For fourteen-year-old Lucy Martinez, the moment when everything changes comes one night during a long car trip with her older brother and his friend Kit. They are on their way to visit Lucy's father for spring break, but never make it. While driving across northern New Mexico through a blinding rainstorm, their car hits something—an animal, they think. But when they backtrack, they find a dead body on the side of the road. With amazing insight and compelling prose, Elise Broach charts a suspenseful journey full of danger, loss, and painful self-discovery. What will happen to the lives of three teenagers who can suddenly no longer pretend innocence?Sherrie Williams - VOYAFourteen-year-old Lucy Martinez is enduring a torturous road trip with her brother, Jaime, and his handsome but annoying friend Kit when their lives change in an instant. In a rare desert rainstorm, their car hits something. They do not know what they hit, but Lucy convinces her brother to investigate. The boys reassure her that it was no doubt a coyote, but as they backtrack they find a dead young woman on the side of the road. Could they have hit and killed her? Kit and Lucy drive to a nearby home to call the police, where they meet Beth, a woman whose life will become painfully intertwined with Jaime's. Upon the arrival of the police, they are pulled deeper every moment into life-changing decisions and events they never expected. This book blends several genres into a compelling, fast-moving tale. There are elements of true crime and forensics, romance, mystery, and self-discovery. The characters are realistic and the dialogue and situations ring true. There are some painfully beautiful turns of phrase invoked, as the characters are about to plunge into life changing events. Reluctant readers of both genders will find much to enjoy. The many moral dilemmas, bad decisions, and unexpected twists in the story keep the book moving at a steady pace toward a satisfying and cathartic conclusion. This book is strongly recommended for public and school libraries serving students age twelve and above. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2006, Henry Holt, 288p., Ages 12 to 18.
\ Children's LiteratureSpring breaks are supposed to be full of excitement and fun! That is exactly what fifteen-year-old Lucy thought this road trip would be about. Lucy's break consisted of going to Phoenix to see her dad with her older brother, Jamie, and his best friend, Kit. Driving through New Mexico had something else in store for these three. When Jamie was driving (and drinking), he hit something. Assuming it was a coyote, they decided to stop the car and see. On the road was not a coyote--but a dead girl. Scrambling on what to do, Kit and Lucy head to a nearby house to get help while Jamie waits by the girl in the rain. Beth, an older adult, calls the cops and drives Lucy and Kit back to the spot where the accident happened. Their plans are derailed when they have to stay in town for the investigation. Meanwhile, Beth takes the three into her home. As she does, the events unfold and Jamie falls for Beth. As awkward as that might be, Kit and Lucy discover a bit of a romance too. Nevertheless, Lucy is fixated on the dead girl. She has to find out who she was; and what she does find may surprise you. Could they possibly end up in more trouble? Do they ever make it to Phoenix? Find out in this easy-to-read gripping prose. 2006, Henry Holt and Company, Ages 12 to 18. \ —Kelly Grebinoski\ \ \ \ \ VOYAFourteen-year-old Lucy Martinez is enduring a torturous road trip with her brother, Jaime, and his handsome but annoying friend Kit when their lives change in an instant. In a rare desert rainstorm, their car hits something. They do not know what they hit, but Lucy convinces her brother to investigate. The boys reassure her that it was no doubt a coyote, but as they backtrack they find a dead young woman on the side of the road. Could they have hit and killed her? Kit and Lucy drive to a nearby home to call the police, where they meet Beth, a woman whose life will become painfully intertwined with Jaime's. Upon the arrival of the police, they are pulled deeper every moment into life-changing decisions and events they never expected. This book blends several genres into a compelling, fast-moving tale. There are elements of true crime and forensics, romance, mystery, and self-discovery. The characters are realistic and the dialogue and situations ring true. There are some painfully beautiful turns of phrase invoked, as the characters are about to plunge into life changing events. Reluctant readers of both genders will find much to enjoy. The many moral dilemmas, bad decisions, and unexpected twists in the story keep the book moving at a steady pace toward a satisfying and cathartic conclusion. This book is strongly recommended for public and school libraries serving students age twelve and above. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2006, Henry Holt, 288p., Ages 12 to 18. \ —Sherrie Williams\ \ \ School Library JournalGr 8 Up-From the dramatic opening scene, in which three teens driving across the New Mexico desert in a blinding rainstorm hit something on the highway and go back to investigate, to the satisfying conclusion, when they resume their overdue spring break, this book is a gripping page-turner. Fourteen-year-old Lucy Martinez, her 18-year-old brother Jamie, and Jamie's friend Kit are on the way from their Kansas home to spend their vacation with the siblings' father in Phoenix when the accident occurs. Expecting to see a dead animal on the road, they are horrified to find a dead girl close to their own age. The nearest resident is Beth, a middle-aged, somewhat reclusive artist who summons the local sheriff and allows Lucy and Kit to stay at her house while Jamie, the driver, is taken into custody. As the investigation progresses, they learn that the girl was clearly dead before being placed on the road. Although the teens are now free to go, Lucy is determined to stay and try to discover more about the victim. She insists that Kit accompany her on a wild and eventually dangerous journey in pursuit of clues leading to a local man whom she becomes convinced is the killer. Although at this point the plot becomes somewhat improbable and filled with convenient coincidences, readers are so caught up in the story that suspension of disbelief is easy to achieve. Subplots involve a mild romance between Lucy and Kit and a more intense and far-more-troubling one between Jamie and Beth. A great choice for booktalking to middle and high school students.-Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.\ \ \ \ \ Kirkus ReviewsThree teens move from innocence to experience when their spring break takes an unexpected detour crossing the New Mexico desert. Fifteen-year-old Lucy is fed up with her older brother Jamie and his best friend Kit because they ignore her and flirt with every waitress between Kansas City and Phoenix. But everything changes when their car hits something on the highway during a nighttime cloudburst. Instead of finding an injured coyote, they are stunned to discover the body of a dead girl lying beside the highway. Forced to stay in the area while police investigate the unidentified girl's death, Jamie becomes involved with an older local woman and a bewildered Lucy finds herself gravitating toward the irritating Kit. Obsessed with uncovering the identity of the mysterious dead girl, Lucy winds up on the trail of a strange man in a blue truck. Eventually, Lucy, Jamie and Kit resume their trip, having traveled much further than they ever imagined. Satisfying suspense and self-discovery in the desert. (Fiction. 12-18)\ \
