The narrator of this uneven novel, 17-year-old Chloé Rodriguez, lives with her supportive adoptive parents, her twin baby brothers and her beloved Harley Davidson, "Lolita"-a gift from her late uncle Seth. At school, she is assigned a peer tutor, the enigmatic Gordon, to avoid failing chemistry. Though she is still reeling from her uncle's death and insists that "keeping safe from any more heartbreak is my main goal," she and Gordon begin dating. Chloé initially finds some happiness with Gordon, but their relationship is volatile. And then there is her best friend, Rock, who is interested in taking their friendship a step further. Triana (The Temptress Four) has created a well-rounded character in Chloé, from her biker chick persona to her tendency to make up portmanteau words (girlgoyle, fathomystic), but she falls short in describing Chloé's feelings about her adoption and her attempts to find her birth parents. When secrets surrounding her adoption are brought to light, the revelation seems anticlimactic. Nevertheless, the novel is well-paced and themes of family, romance and identity should resonate. Ages 12-up.
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Gr 9 Up—Grieving over the recent death of her Uncle Seth, 17-year-old Chloé Rodriguez enjoys nothing more than riding her Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster, which her uncle left her, down the open highway. But her freedom is threatened by her parents' ultimatum—bring up her failing chemistry grade or lose Lolita. Gordon is assigned to tutor her, and even though he is so not her type, they fall hard for one another. Meanwhile, Rock, Chloé's best friend since third grade, suddenly tells her that he loves her and always has. Chloé is torn over what to do, but the decision is made for her when Gordon decides his life plan does not include her. And Rock? He is there to pick up the pieces, as always, and Chloé learns that there are no guarantees in love but that sometimes you have to take a chance. What starts off as a cheesy premise—girl riding motorcycle—soon turns into a surprisingly well-developed story. Chloé and Rock are strong characters on an emotional rollercoaster ride trying to make sense of their feelings for one another. Even Gordon, although unwilling to change for love, draws sympathy from readers. And, the breakup between Chloé and Gordon is particularly heartbreaking. The authentic teen voices and tangible emotions make this book a satisfying read.—Kelley Siegrist, Farmington Community Library, MI
Seventeen-year-old Chloe Rodriguez is most alive when she's racing her best guy friend, Rock, down the Florida highway on the back of her kitted-out Harley, which she's named Lolita. To Chloe, Lolita is much more than a set of wheels, in large part because she built Lolita together with her recently deceased uncle Seth. So when this biker chick begins failing chemistry and her parents threaten to ban her from Lolita until she brings up her grade, Chloe reluctantly signs up for tutoring. Despite dreading tutoring, when Chloe is paired with the hot and brainy Gordon Spudinka, their partnership sets off a chain of unexpected reactions that leave Chloe exhilarated, but also with some major life-changing choices. Although the plot is somewhat predictable, Chloe's tough exterior, layered over her introspective inner voice, and the inclusion of such multidimensional topics as adoption and parent/teen relationships drive this text onto an open road that's filled with enough unexpected speed bumps to engage readers. (Fiction. YA)
Gaby Triana has created a heroine after my own heart. Chloe is smart. Loyal. Fearless. I’d ride with her any day.” — Ellen Hopkins, New York Times bestselling author of Identical and Crank
“Stupendicular! Gaby Triana has crafted a beautiful coming-of-age story with deft prose and well-developed characters. I put it down with a sigh.” — Alex Flinn, author of Beastly and Breathing Underwater
“Chloé’s tough exterior, layered over her introspective inner voice…drive this text onto an open road that’s filled with enough unexpected speed bumps to engage readers.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The authentic teen voices and tangible emotions make this book a satisfying read.” — School Library Journal
“Teens will…enjoy following Chloe as she navigates school and home life, her issues, and her discovery that opening your heart can hurt-but also heal.” — Booklist
Teens will…enjoy following Chloe as she navigates school and home life, her issues, and her discovery that opening your heart can hurt-but also heal.
Stupendicular! Gaby Triana has crafted a beautiful coming-of-age story with deft prose and well-developed characters. I put it down with a sigh.
Gaby Triana has created a heroine after my own heart. Chloe is smart. Loyal. Fearless. I’d ride with her any day.
