Aesop Lake

Gr 9 Up-Would you have the courage to report a violent hate crime if it meant your mother could go to jail? Seventeen-year-old Leda Keough is facing this moral quandary. Leda loves her boyfriend David, but she doesn't understand why he feels the need to taunt their classmates Jonathan and Ricky just because they're gay. While David's behavior bothers Leda, she doesn't try to prevent it until his actions are about to become violent. Knowing his girlfriend might tell on him, David threatens to inform the police about Leda's mother, who is selling drugs to support her family. Left with what feels like an impossible choice, Leda ultimately runs away, while David and a friend of his terrorize and beat Jonathan and Ricky. In an attempt to temporarily escape the bind she's in, Leda takes a nanny job for the summer at a remote house on a lake—but her troubles follow her there when Jonathan's family shows up to vacation at the same resort. Ward (Stone Sisters) weaves a fast-paced, riveting tale, alternating between Leda and Jonathan's perspectives. The story contains many characters, but the narrative is easy to follow. Ward's seamless switching between Leda's and Jonathan's points of view gives readers a full picture of the impact of this hate crime. Her depiction of rural, small-town life for gay teens is unflinchingly realistic. Her characterization of teenagers rings true. A set of thought-provoking questions for teens concludes the volume.