What happens in Mexico stays in Mexico, unless it forces you to show up late to high-school graduation in a squad car wearing a red Mexican wedding dress.
Just how did Kylie Flores, class valedictorian from the wrong side of the tracks, and Max Langston, the king of Freiburg Academy’s richest and hottest, wind up in bed together in Ensenada, Mexico, on graduation morning? This breezy romp takes readers along for the ride as the teens piece together the details of their wild night. Kylie’s best friend Will, her brother Jake and Max’s girlfriend Lily also lend their voices to the story. Jake, who suffers from Asperger’s, adds a particularly distinctive perspective. And while the number of teens coming out may push the believability factor, the depiction of their relationships with both friends and love interests feels real and positive. It’s no surprise that both Kramer and Thomas share common roots in the film industry. Their love of the medium comes through not only in Kylie and Will’s passion for quoting movies but also in the fast-paced action sequences that seem made for the big screen.
Though some subplots feel superfluous, the twists and turns make for an enjoyable ride that readers will likely remember.
(Fiction. 14 & up)