Lucky Few

Gr 9 Up—Stevie Hart first meets Max when she finds his dead body in her neighbor's backyard, or at least she thinks it's his dead body. It turns out the blood is corn syrup and the death is bogus, just part of Max's goal of faking his own death 23 different ways. Homeschooled, Stevie doesn't have a lot of friends, and she isn't sure she wants to add this strange new neighbor to her small list. Her best friend Sanger disagrees; she has her own reasons for wanting to add Max to their friendship and help him with his checklist. Eventually, Sanger and Max manage to convince Stevie that the plan is worth pursuing, and Max charms his way into her heart. Ormsbee gives readers a sweet, believable romance without weakening the bond between the best girlfriends. Against the backdrop of their fake death checklist, which takes them all over Austin, the three teens explore friendship, romance, activism, and their own mortality. Sharing fears stemming from near-death experiences, Stevie understands Max's need to face his own anxieties around death. However, when her diabetes leads to another brush with death, Stevie begins to question their project. This quirky novel brings humor, relatable characters, and an inside look into the world of homeschoolers.