The Boy Recession

Gr 8–11—Budget cuts at Julius P. Heil High cause the football coach and all the players pursuing college scholarships to leave for prep schools with better prospects. Suddenly the remaining guys at the small school near Milwaukee find their girl appeal soaring. Longtime friends Hunter Fahrenbach and Kelly Robbins narrate the events of their unusual junior year in separate chapters. Easygoing, long-haired Hunter not only attracts spandexer Diva, who proclaims him her boyfriend, but also unexpectedly stars in the school musical. His entrepreneurial friend, Eugene, expands his business enterprises of securing cigarettes and alcohol for underage users by setting up an escort service for girls needing dates to the prom. Dependable "nice girl" Kelly realizes her feelings for Hunter have changed from friendly to romantic when they set up a musical mentoring program for elementary students after the school band is eliminated. Her friend Aviva documents developments in the boy recession for the online school newspaper. Despite mishaps and misunderstandings, all plotlines lead to Kelly and Hunter getting together to attend prom. Their narrative voices sound similar, although he spices his chapters with profanity. Their breezy, fast-paced accounts incorporate humorous situations and witty comments. Standard fare for readers searching for romance with a neatly packaged happy ending.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato