I have so many kids in my sophomore English classes who read this book for their independent reading time. Several boys were intrigued by the title, and once they got into the story they were hooked. One student said he could see something like this happening at our school, a high school of just over 500 in a once-thriving industrial midwestern town. ( )

Not the cover I received however it is a excellent book for all teens to read. A real eye opener. Will recommend to others for sure ( )

Kyle and his friends are determined to make social change through a high school assignment. Then a tragic accident, really unrelated but related in the students' minds, befalls the small town Kyle lives in and changes his perspective on his future.

The author takes us on a snapshot journey of a year in the life of Kyle, Quaker, Diana, and their friends. The writing style had a good flow and made the book an easy read. The plot lines were laid out pretty well, and as a YA book I'm sure many teens would be able to empathize with the characters. There are some big decisions these high schoolers make that changes the course of things, which can translate to any parts of life.

I'd recommend it for all young adults looking for something a little different. ( )

This book was written in 2003, but the storyline is one that could be set in any high school from the 1970's to today. The story is about Kyle, a high school senior and his best friends Quaker and Diana. They live in a small town in Vermont. The students are assigned a group term project. They choose a project to do peaceful protest in order to lower their town drinking age. This book shows the interactions between the teens, their peers, teachers and parents. Just enough is told about the supporting characters to give you a connection to them also. There are a few unexpected twist to the story, that draw you in even more. Found this to be a quick, interesting read about growing up in rural America and making choices in life that really impact you. Recommend it. ( )

This was an interesting novel set in a high school in Vermont. The dynamics and characters reminded me more of my own high school in the '80s -- and nothing like the novel of that era, Less Than Zero. Keizer provides a great perspective from a boy at the lower end of the economic spectrum, living in a town with limited options, but proving that neither wealth nor opportunity are factors for good character. ( )