Checkered Flag Cheater

Gr 10-Up Weaver continues the story of Trace Bonham, a teenager who was chosen to be the driver for a Super Stock racing team. Team Blu is sponsored by an energy-drink company, and Trace is feeling pressure from his corporate handlers to conform to the image they want to project. In addition, Trace continues to be troubled by the breakup of his parents' marriage; his on-again-off-again relationship with Mel, a girl also involved in the stock-car scene; and, most importantly, by his ongoing suspicion that his team is illegally tinkering with his engine to give him an edge on the competition. Trace is a flawed but appealing character who clearly enjoys the perks of being a celebrity even as he wrestles with the moral dilemmas inherent in his situation. (Weaver includes a quote from legendary NASCAR driver Darrell Waltrip suggesting that cheating is endemic in stock-car racing.) This is a good choice for car-mad reluctant readers, although a couple of non-graphic sex scenes may limit it to a slightly older audience than that for previous books in the series."Richard Luzer, Fair Haven Union High School, VT" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.