I Will Save You

Gr 8 Up—Unexpectedly orphaned, 17-year-old Kidd Ellison finds himself at Horizons, a group home to help rehabilitate kids who have experienced trauma. Alone and lonely, except for a new friend, Devon, a dangerous young man with a death wish, Kidd decides to flee Horizons and his therapy program. He hitchhikes to Cardiff-by-the-Sea where the beach campsite manager, Mr. Red, who's still grieving the loss of his own son, takes Kidd under his wing and offers him a summer job. Kidd's life begins to brighten when he meets beautiful Olivia and a sweet summer romance blossoms. Then Devon appears unannounced and begins to make the moves on Olivia. Kidd instinctively knows he must save her-even if it means killing his best friend. Wisdom says keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but what if the enemy is you? Told in short chapters through journal entries, flashbacks, and real time, de la Peña skillfully captures the slippery sides of a schizophrenic personality in this heartwarming, root-for-the-underdog novel (Delacorte, 2010). Henry Leyva's narration is spot on, especially for confused and trouble Kidd. A great listen!—Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH