Derailed

DERAILED by Jon Ripslinger
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 9/1/06
Publisher: Flux
Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
Rating: 5 Stars

Wendell "Stony" Stoneking's life is about football, his girlfriend, Mindy, and weekend parties. His future plans include
marrying Mindy, having kids, and probably working at the local stone quarry like his father and his grandfather. Most of his
time is spent at football practice, making out with Mindy, or helping his mother in the family bait and tackle shop. Everything
seems to be moving along nicely until his American Lit grade threatens to plummet below acceptable standards for football
eligibility.

Robyn is the tutor assigned to help Stony raise his Lit grade. They work together in the library during seventh hour and things
begin to change. Stony finds that maybe with a little effort American Lit is not that difficult. He finds that Mindy is jealous of
Robyn and ends their relationship. Stony also discovers that he wants to know more about Robyn. What little he's learned is
that she lives with her sister and brother-in-law, and that she has a kid.

Life for Stony begins to get complicated. The tutoring and his improved grade in American Lit have opened up possibilities for
his future. Maybe college would be an option instead of a "going nowhere" job at the stone quarry. Although he loves his
mother and father, Stony realizes that the life they have is not what he wants. All of a sudden Robyn and her son, Logan, have
set Stony's sights on a different horizon.

Ripslinger's riveting story draws the reader into the growing relationship between Stony and Robyn. There are more
complications to Robyn's life than meet the eye, and they create a dramatic situation that draws the book to a fast-paced
conclusion. This book will appeal to teen boy and girl readers alike. It's well worth checking out.