Things I'd Rather Do than Die

Gr 9 Up—After being robbed of their cell phones at gunpoint and then locked in the gym overnight, Jade and Ethan are forced to bear each other's company for eight long hours. And if that's not enough, when they finally get out, everyone seems to think that they did more than just talk— and that includes Ethan's girlfriend. Ethan and Jade are determined to move on from the harrowing experience, but it's hard to do so when they've seen each other in a different light. Ethan isn't just some jock with a great body and the perfect girlfriend, and Jade isn't an ice queen with a successful family. They won't make it through their senior year without the lessons they learn from one another. Deriso alternates viewpoints seamlessly, providing Jade and Ethan with unique voices and personalities to tell their intertwining stories. Ethan sometimes comes across as a less-developed protagonist, but the strength of Jade's characterization makes up for what his lacks. Jade's family and the love interests' different social standings allows for discussion of race and class.