Read the Abe’s!!

“Read the Abe’s” is a new series were I, your friendly, neighborhood librarian, highlights an Abraham Lincoln Award nominee every other week.”

Reality Check by Peter Abrahams

Cody is almost 17 and on top of the world.  He has a bright future as a football star and awesome girlfriend, Clea, but it all comes crashing down.  Shortly after learning Clea is leaving town to attend a wealthy boarding school in New England, Cody breaks up with her and soon after suffers a career ending knee injury.  With his future taken away from him, Cody loses interest in school and soon just stops going to take a full-time job delivering construction materials.  It is only when he learns Clea has disappeared from her boarding school that Cody snaps out of his aimless state.  Unable to get Clea out his head, Cody drives across the country to join the search.

In spite of the somewhat familiar story (boy from the wrong side of the tracks falls for the wealthy, smart girl), I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Abrahams is a master at writing suspenseful and gripping mysteries.  I couldn’t put it down.  For me, the most important thing when it comes to mysteries is if the story is believable.  Can a 17 year old in a strange town really solve the mystery behind the disappearance of another person?  In some respects, I think this is a tall order, but Abrahams executes beautifully.   All the clues Cody either stumbles on or figures out seem natural and not forced.  It sucked me in.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast- paced and  thrilling mysteries.

Next up:  Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Posted: January 19th, 2012 under Abraham Lincoln Award, Great Reads.
Tags: Reality Check