Interference

by Kay Honeyman

Overview

Friday Night Lights meets Jane Austen's Emma in this wonderful novel about a big election, big games, the big state of Texas, and a little romance.

As a Congressman's daughter in Washington, D.C., Kate Hamilton is good at getting what she wants -- what some people might call "interfering." But when her family moves to West Texas so her dad can run in a special election, Kate encounters some difficulties that test all her political skills. None of her matchmaking efforts go according to plan. Her father's campaign gets off to a rough start. A pro tip for moving to Texas: Don't slam the star quarterback's hand in a door. And whenever Kate messes up, the irritatingly right (and handsome) Hunter Price is there to witness it. But Kate has determination and a good heart, and with all her political savvy -- and a little clever interference -- she'll figure out what it takes to make Red Dirt home. Terrifically funny and sweetly romantic, with whip-crack dialogue and a wise perspective on growing up, Interference is the perfect next read for fans of Jenny Han, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth Eulberg, or Sarah Dessen.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545812337
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/27/2016
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	7 MB
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Kay Honeyman grew up in Texas, where she followed football and politics with equal passion. Her first novel, The Fire Horse Girl, was nominated for three state awards. Kay now teaches language arts in Dallas, where she lives with her family. Please visit her website at www.kayhoneyman.com and follow her on Twitter at @kayhoneyman.

Read an Excerpt

"I don't know how to drive."He slammed on the brakes. "You're kidding, right?""My parents just never had time to teach me. We're always busy campaigning. And in D.C. we have this thing called public transportation."Hunter put the truck in park and got out."What are you doing?" I yelled through the open back window. "We're in the middle of the road. Get back in the car."He strolled to my door and pulled it open. "Move over.""Why?""I'm teaching you how to drive."I shook my head. "I can't.""Come on, you have to let me make up for being such an idiot," he said. I slumped against the seat and stared out the window. "No, you still don't get it. I'll hit something," I said. "Then people will find out that I hit something, and my dad will get furious, not because the car is wrecked, not because his insurance goes up, but because the talk shows will start asking him questions about teenage drivers. He'll be asked if texting on the road should be illegal, and as a father, does he support a curfew for teens. They won't ask about me, but it will be a barrage of questions that surround me, and he'll have to field every one. Then they'll start looking at Kyle Stone's driving record, which is probably perfect, and Dad will come home at the end of the day, and I'll get that look. The look you saw today." Hunter pointed out the front window. "What are you going to hit?" I looked across an empty desert to the horizon. The sky stretched for miles in front of me. It felt more part of the landscape than the sky in D.C., like you could touch it. "And if it helps," Hunter said, "Kyle drives like a blind monkey."

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Interference:"I loved reading about Kate, who uses her street smarts and political know-how to go after what she knows is right. With its winning combination of football, politics, and a swoony small-town romance, this story stole my heart." — Miranda Kenneally, author of Catching Jordan and Defending Taylor"If you've ever messed up big time and yearned to hit restart, you must read Interference. Kay Honeyman's big-hearted exploration of life after a scandal reveals the true meaning of love, forgiveness, and courage." — Justina Chen, author of North of Beautiful and A Blind Spot for Boys"Kay Honeyman scores a touchdown with Interference, a fabulous read about new beginnings and family politics, freshly spun with humor, scandal, football, and a little romance." — Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club and Better Off Friends"This light romance gives plenty of nods to Emma, including its flawed but well-intentioned protagonist, while taking a fresh approach to the story... Perfect for readers wanting an update of an Austen classic." — Booklist"The character-driven plot will have strong appeal... A fun read with interesting themes likely to please most fans of realistic fiction." — School Library JournalPraise for The Fire Horse Girl:*"First-time author Honeyman has researched the history of Angel Island and early twentieth century San Francisco carefully, yet the ultimate strength of this story is in her character Jade Moon. Her voice, authentic and consistent, transcends this historical fiction/adventure/love story to embrace every young woman who has ever searched for the real person hidden under the veneer of society's expectations." — Booklist, starred review"Historical details create a strong sense of setting, and readers will recognize (well before Jade Moon does) that her inner fire is an asset, and that she's much more than the sign under which she was born." — Publishers Weekly"In a defiant first-person voice, Jade Moon describes the desperate lives of Chinese immigrant women as she relies on her Fire Horse persona to save herself... Perilous, page-turning adventure in old Chinatown." — Kirkus Reviews"Jade Moon is a complex heroine and this book offers fascinating discussion points for the themes of feminism, gender roles, and diversity. Adult fans of Amy Tan may also enjoy this thoughtful, well-crafted story." — Voice of Youth Advocates

From the Publisher

08/01/2016
Gr 9 Up—Kate Hamilton believes her family is leaving Washington, DC, for Texas because of a scandal with her ex-boyfriend and her father's failing Senate race. Once she arrives, she discovers that her parents haven't given up on politics; her father is running in a special election in the hometown he's not visited in years. Kate is obliged to make friends, finish her photo portfolio for college admissions, and figure out how to beat her ex for a coveted college recommendation, all while not causing any problems for the political race. She gets off on the wrong foot with Hunter, a local boy who helps out at her aunt's animal shelter. Sparks fly between them even when their tempers flare. Kate tries to help her new friend Anna Gomez (a well-rounded secondary character and the only person of color in the work's cast), and things don't go well. Maybe what Kate thinks of as helping is just interference. Major themes of politics and football tie the narrative together as the compelling protagonist navigates high school, boy problems, and life. The issues are realistic, and the character-driven plot will have strong appeal for many. The relationship between Kate and her parents is authentically difficult at times, though Honeyman manages to bring the family together without compromising the personalities of her characters. VERDICT A fun read with interesting themes likely to please most fans of realistic fiction.—Genevieve Feldman, San Francisco Public Library

School Library Journal

2016-06-22
When an ex-boyfriend posts humiliating pictures of her online, 17-year-old Kate Hamilton feels responsible for the dramatic shift in political mojo that leads her father to step down from his U.S. Congressional seat and move the family from the nation's capital to his hometown in Red Dirt, Texas.This podunk town may be a far cry from the sophisticated world she's used to, but the white teen quickly discovers that while the issues may be different, everything is still political, particularly when she discovers that the school's quarterback is the son of her father's new campaign opponent. Kate is determined to shore up her chances of getting into a fine arts college by using her time in Red Dirt to perfect her photography portfolio and snare the coveted principal's recommendation from her cheating ex when the family inevitably returns to D.C. But she's stuck here now, and using her political savvy to right wrongs and navigate life in a new high school where football reigns may be her biggest challenge yet. While Kate is likable enough, her tendency toward political-jargon infodumps often feels forced and inauthentic. The story is best when it focuses on the romantic tension between Kate and the mysterious Hunter Price, her biology partner and a man of many talents, and on the blossoming friendship between Kate and Ana Gomez, the one significant character of color. Too much politics. Too little heart. (Fiction. 13-17)

Kirkus Reviews