Gr 9 Up—Eden Moore is the smartest person in her graduating class. She has to be if she wants to escape her poverty-stricken family. Money is tight, since her dad can't seem to hold a job, so Eden works part-time taking care of a boy with autism and his sister. It's this job that helps her find her purpose in life. But none of that means anything to Ash Gupta. He's the second smartest and the opposite of Eden in almost every way. They are barely civil, but their paths cross often. Eden challenges almost everything Ash says or does in class. Things become heated during an English presentation, and instead of hating each other, they find themselves mutually attracted. But will their vast differences tear them apart? This is an engaging read. The narrative takes place during one semester of school, and it's full of drama, struggles with money and grades, family turmoil, and identity issues. While the book is engaging, the ending is a slight letdown. Readers may not react well to being so invested in Eden and Ash's journey, only to see their story resolved in a time jump.
VERDICT The topic and characters make this a good purchase for libraries.
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