Two Roads from Here

Gr 9 Up—A middle grade author ventures into YA territory with his latest realistic novel. Follow the stories of Brian, Allegra, Wiley, and Nikki as they navigate their senior year of high school. Brian loves football, but when he sustains an unexpected head injury, should he play in the big game? Allegra is accepted to Stanford, but will she go? Wiley loves his best friend, but should he tell her? Nikki has a mistake in her past that she's running from—will she choose to please others or herself? This novel asks the eternal question, do we control our destiny by our choices, or is our fate predetermined? Readers will be completely drawn in by the unique text structure of this story. Steinkellner follows a pattern reminiscent of a "Choose Your Own Adventure" format, where teens see the story through two totally different threads. The narrative alternates between "Road One" and "Road Two" scenarios, where events in the plot change based on the characters' choices. Those who enjoyed Susan Beth Pfeffer's Life as We Knew It or Emery Lord's When We Collided will be captivated by this title's alternating character views and dramatic plotlines.