Along for the Ride

Gr 7 Up–All Katelyn Jackson wants to do is play soccer and be part of the Limitless showcase (which will give her international playing experience), however, her YouTube star musician brother is touring and Katelyn is going with him. Things are not all bad, however, because the band Skyline is going on tour with Connor, and Katelyn has a major crush on one of the members, Zach. A sweet romance blossoms and Katelyn splits her time between playing soccer and the tour. The narrative evolves predictably, but there are additional layers that add nuance to the plot. Zach has epilepsy and the book highlights his experience. Katelyn receives an injury and lashes out and ignores her friends. Katelyn and Connor’s mother is incredibly supportive, a characterization that’s refreshing. There is a “happy for now” ending that will provide a nice escape for teens. Characters are cued as white.