Gr 9 Up—High school senior Jason is one angry guy with a don't-mess-with-me reputation. Abused by his psychotic father, Jason spends his time trying to keep his little sister safe while dealing with the overwhelming rage that threatens to control him. In order to earn money to set up a new life elsewhere with his sister, Jason accepts a job as a bodyguard/mentor/pseudofriend to a popular senior boy, but the job quickly spirals into illegal territory. Nick Cordero narrates in the first person in an angry voice, perfectly portraying the brooding quality of this multidimensional character.
VERDICT Parsons's debut is an emotionally intense, discussion-worthy novel, with gruesome violence that can be difficult to listen to at times. ["Features well-drawn characters, realistic dialogue, and ethical dilemmas that many readers have already faced or might have to face in the future": SLJ 1/15 review of the Philomel book.]
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