Ferocity Summer

Gr 10 Up—Scilla Davis realizes that bad decision after bad decision has forced her into a toxic descent. Her absent father, bitter mom, feelings of alienation, drinking and drug use, plummeting grades, and loveless sex life have turned the 17-year-old into a confused and self-doubting teenager. Her freefall ends with a substance-fueled boating accident that has fatal results. Now, as Scilla waits for her trial, she watches her friend Willow, also culpable in the tragedy, plunge into heavy-duty drug abuse. An FBI agent offers her a way to reduce charges if Scilla helps with identifying the dealer pushing "Ferocity," a new designer drug that can short-circuit a user's brain. If she wants to save herself, she'll have to expose her hook-up partner (a low-level dealer) and Willow, his sister. Because of her failing grade in history, Scilla needs to write a paper on General Sherman and the parallels she draws between his life and hers are more distracting than edifying. Choppy sentences reflect Scilla's emotionally exhausting panic as she continues to sink deeper and deeper. Despite clumsy similes, some clunky writing, and parts that strain credulity, Grosso's dark effort will be in hot demand by some older teens.—Susan Riley, Mamaroneck Public Library, NY