Victim Rights

Gr 9—11—Bad-boy teen detective Ryan Dooley feels sucker punched when he learns that his girlfriend has been raped on a school-related trip by pretty boy Parker Albright. Depressed and ashamed, Beth attempts suicide and her mother keeps Ryan from her daughter, blaming him for being an overall bad influence. Enraged that Parker laughs off allegations and is backed by wealthy parents and their stable of lawyers, Ryan is the prime suspect when Parker turns up dead. A series of transparent red herrings leads readers to assume that he is guilty. Plot twists abound as the police then arrest Beth, and Ryan focuses on finding the real killer. Bits and pieces of his background are woven into this episode, but much is left out regarding his law-breaking past and how he came to be in the guardianship of an ex-cop "uncle." Characterized as an outcast with a tough-guy exterior, Ryan grows on readers as he shows his vulnerabilities and loyalties to those who matter to him. His uncle is also well developed and leads readers to want to know more about his steadfast, parental guidance of an often-hotheaded teen. A loose description of the author's style might be Elmore Leonard meets the Hardy Boys in terms of mature themes and occasional profanity-with a tidy ending.—Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY