Shoot the Moon

Gr 9 Up—Tate Bertram is a scoundrel who splits his time between college and running an illegal gambling ring—until he's busted. Tate is also, supposedly, in recovery for gambling addiction. With his secret out, the teen's family cuts him off; except his aunt Nora who offers him an internship with her political campaign. The high-pressure internship and his college course load begin to wear on Tate and he falls back into bad habits. Fans of the Jane Austen—inspired Seeking Mansfield will find this a darker story but still full of engaging characters and all the ensuing drama. Watson adeptly shows the pull and trap of addiction. The highs and lows of a dependence on gambling, (or any other vice), are eloquently brought to life in the story. This is an excellent choice for teens who like to read character-driven tales with a lot of drama. The intrigue is as rich as the cast of characters.