Blood Brothers
by S. A. Harazin

    BLOOD BROTHERS by S. A. Harazin
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  7/10/07
    Publisher:  Delacorte
    Reviewed by:  Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
    Rating:  5 Stars


    In BLOOD BROTHERS, S. A. Harazin combines many "teens will love it" elements sure to be a success for the
    young adult crowd.

    Clay and Joey are best friends, even though their lives are quite different. Clay’s mother died when he was just a
    baby, and while he lives with his dad, there’s not much interaction between them. He pretty much fends for
    himself. Joey, on the other hand, has a great family, gets good grades, and has a terrific future ahead of him.

    One night Joey calls Clay. It is obvious that Joey is not himself. He sounds confused and angry, possibly drunk.
    When Clay arrives, Joey flies into a mad rage, and while attempting to calm Joey and protect himself, Clay
    shoves Joey. The incident ends in a 911 call with Joey ending up in the hospital in a coma.

    Clay works as a nurses’ assistant at the hospital and knows just how bad things look for his friend. The personal
    guilt combined with the hostility he feels from his best friend’s parents make Clay determined to investigate
    exactly what happened to Joey that night. There was some sort of party. Was Joey really just drunk or was it
    drugs? And if so, what kind of drugs and where did he get them?

    Readers are taken along on the wild ride as Clay tries to solve the mystery, do what he can to keep his friend
    comfortable, and hang on to his own job. Teens will appreciate that S. A. Harazin writes on a realistic level and
    doesn’t try to baby them. The direct, honest approach will attract teen readers and have them recommending this
    one to their friends.