Chasing the Skip

Gr 8 Up—Ricki's mom has run off, and the 15-year-old finds herself with her estranged father, who is a bounty hunter. He makes a living chasing parole evaders, also known as "skips," across the United States. Ricki believes he abandoned her as a child, and now she is in for the ride of her life as her father starts chasing an attractive 17-year-old felon who gets away from them several times. As she gets to know Ian, she finds herself attracted to his take-charge attitude. She thinks she can help him escape and that he can help her find her mom and refuses to believe that he is dangerous until it is almost too late. In the end, she learns some enlightening truths about her parents and about herself. Chasing the Skip is really a novel about a father and daughter giving each other a second chance for reconciliation and a new lease on life. Many teens will relate to Ricki's challenge as she tries to figure out where she belongs on the road of life.Shannon Seglin, formerly at Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA