SPEEDING BULLET by Neal Shusterman
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  7/27/04
    Publisher:  Simon Pulse
    Reviewed by:  Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"
    Rating: 5 Stars


    For Nicholas "Nicky" Herrera, life is simply defined by getting through the day. His very Catholic mother has a habit
    of reminding him how much he's like his older brother, Salvatore. His police officer father tries to keep the family
    peace. His other brother, Paulie, is the smart one. For Nick, who is barely making it through the tenth grade, he's
    finally decided that there's nothing more in his future than surviving, and possibly working at the docks or in sanitation
    like the goals of his best friend, Marco.

    Until one day, Nick rescues a little girl from the tracks of the subway. Suddenly, he's a hero, and every quarter he
    tosses keeps coming up heads. When he garners the attention of Linda Lanko, the daughter of the richest developer
    in New York, he realizes that there might be a purpose to his life after all. Rescue opportunities are now popping up
    all over, and word of mouth throughout the city has turned Nick into a modern-day hero of Superman proportions.

    Nick's heroism, of course, brings him all sorts of problems that he never even imagined. While on one hand his life
    now seems charmed, his personal relationships--with his family, with Marco, with Linda--are taking twists and turns
    into unfamiliar territory.

    Then tragedy strikes a number of devastating blows all in quick succession, and Nick realizes that being a hero isn't
    all it's cracked up to be. Who is Nick Herrera, really, and what's his purpose in life? It's suddenly the most important
    thing in his life to figure it out, and the way he does that will leave the reader breathless.

    SPEEDING BULLET is a compelling, quick read that had me staying up late to finish it. You won't be disappointed
    when you pick up your own copy!
Speeding Bullet
by Neal Shusterman