One Way

by Norah McClintock

Overview

Riding the wrong way up a one-way street, Kenzie takes his eyes off the road and hits a pedestrian. And not just any pedestrian. It's his ex-girlfriend, Stassi. Was this a freak accident? Or something more sinister? And when the police come to talk to him, it becomes clear that everyone thinks he had a reason to hurt her. Kenzie ends up in a fight to prove his innocence, even as he begins to question it himself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459801721
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	03/01/2012
Series:	Orca Soundings Series
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	4.20(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	HL550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Norah McClintock won the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for crime fiction for young people five times. She wrote more than sixty YA novels, including contributions to Seven (the series), the Seven Sequels and the Secrets series.

Read an Excerpt

I hit something.
    I have no idea what it is. All I know is that my bike slams to such a sudden stop that my butt comes off the seat and my feet leave the pedals. But I continue to grip the handlebars because I have the crazy idea that if I just hang on, everything will be okay.

Editorial Reviews

"McClintock's story is faced-paced and well-suited to the high-interest, low-vocabulary format of the 'Orca Soundings' series...The reader is quickly drawn into Kenzie's mistake and his ensuing struggles...For those readers who enjoy drama and emotional novels but hate to give up happy endings, One Way is sure to entertain."

CM Magazine

"This fast paced novel has just enough suspense and intrigue to grab a struggling reader's attention and hold it captive throughout the entire plot. Kenzie is a typical teen, and his language and actions are reminiscent of what any high school boy might do in a similar situation....McClintock does a fantastic job of providing us with just enough clues to keep our interest but not too many clues that will make the surprise twist blaringly obvious. The plot is wrapped up very nicely in the end and there are no loose ends left to confuse readers or raise any questions...Struggling readers, especially males, will be able to relate to the characters and events."

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group

"McClintock has done it again filling the book with suspense from the first to last page in vocabulary suitable for hi/lo readers...Full of twists and turns, this is a book that will appeal to boys and girls."

Tri State YA Book Review Committee

"[McClintock] keeps readers hooked all the way. Kenzie is quickly developed into a strong character that we sympathize with and root for. One Way is packed with emotion and speeds through until the smart twist at the end. If a reluctant reader is looking, Orca Soundings don't disappoint and McClintock may even raise the bar."

Resource Links

"McClintock has created an action-packed plot with believable teenage characters and a captivating narrative that moves rapidly to an unpredictable conclusion."

Library Media Connection

Gr 7 Up—These novels are aimed at reluctant and struggling male readers. Breaking Point centers on Cameron, who is sent to a camplike juvenile detention center after he is caught breaking and entering. There he meets troubled Brianna, and, under her influence, they formulate a plan to escape the Nova Scotia facility via kayak to the mainland, in spite of an approaching hurricane. They are not prepared for the storm's surge and Cameron is left to fend for himself after Brianna deserts him. In One Way, Kenzie is riding his bike the wrong way on a one-way street. As he is distracted by an altercation with a driver, he ends up crashing into his ex-girlfriend, Stassi, who appears to be brain-damaged after the collision. Detectives investigate the accident after a classmate claims that Kenzie intended to harm her. The teen decides to take matters into his own hands to figure out who is out to get him. The abrupt and seemingly random endings are reminiscent of a CSI episode, where plot twists come out of nowhere. Readers might be left confused as a result. Additionally, the theme of taking responsibility for one's actions becomes muddied because of the unexpected endings. That said, these hi/lo novels do focus on adventure and betrayal, which may be enough for teenage boys.—Lindsay Klemas, JM Rapport School for Career Development, Bronx, NY

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