JASON & KYRA
by Dana Davidson
An improbable romance blossoms between two African-American students: Jason Vincent, basketball star and one of the most popular guys in school, and intelligent, but inexperienced Kyra Evans. Brought together by a class project, the two connect, finding friendship as well as romance. Unfortunately. as with all romance stories, this one is not without its obstacles. Together they must find a way past their families, their friends, and one vindictive ex-girlfriend. As they fall in love, surprising everyone, they find that they are not so different after all. The too-familiar story of polar opposites falling in love is not improved by the amateurish writing: improbable dialogue, overwritten scenes, and a forced plot are only some of the many problems. Suffering without a strong story or inspired writing, Davidson’s debut misses its mark. (Fiction. 12+)