Gr 7 Up—Similar to the "Bluford" series (Townsend), these high-interest contemporary urban fiction books focus on teenagers trying to navigate adolescence in the midst of difficult situations. After Benito's father is deployed to Iraq, the teen does his best to be the man of the house. When Xavier returns, the family is overjoyed, but soon realize that being a soldier has changed him from the cheerful soccer-playing dad they knew into someone who is fearful, tense, and angry. With the strength of their family bond, they struggle to help him and to regain the closeness and stability they once enjoyed. In Plan B, Lucy's life is perfect; she has a caring mother, great friends, and, best of all, a boyfriend whom she loves. However, after Lucy and Luke make a careless decision, their lives change forever, and she needs to find the right answer for them. In Recruited, Kadeem is ecstatic when scouts shower him with gifts, dinners, and parties and he realizes that his dream of playing college football may be coming true. His happiness quickly turns to dread, though, as he learns that the incentives offered to him are violations of recruitment policy. Given the chance to help stop the unethical behavior, he has to make a heartfelt decision. These well-written stories reinforce the importance of family, friends, values, and thoughtful decision-making. Characters that readers will identify with and care about are combined with realistic plots that reflect society today. Excellent purchases, these books will attract and engage reluctant readers.—Margaret Auguste, Franklin Middle School, Somerset, NJ
