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November 18, 2008
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 | Miles to Go by Gracie C. McKeever | Reviewed by Rickey R. Mallory |  | Publisher: Awe-Struck Books
http://www.awe-struck.net/
ISBN: 1587490269
Genre: Children/Young Adult
Subgenre: Teen Romance
Release date:
Format: E-book
Pages:
Price: $4.25 | Chris Casanova is a high school hero. He shines at everything he does. He's an A student, a rock star; and he's got the kind of Latin good looks that can make a high school girl swoon. But Chris has remained unaffected by all the attention he gets. He's got a good head on his shoulders. He's a nice guy. Amazingly, he is still a virgin, which makes him all the more heroic, given the number of girls who have tried to get his attention.
One day, a cocky, tough, punk girl interrupts Chris's early morning private running time at the gym. He is not happy. He cherishes the time alone to run, to think, to be himself. It doesn't take long to discover that the usurper has a chip on her shoulder as big as a log. She drives him crazy. She's stuck up, her language is crude, and her attitude is "don't mess with me." Chris finds himself annoyed, then intrigued, then downright captivated by this girl who keeps her fragile beauty hidden behind punk clothes and a bad attitude. She's different from any girl he's ever met. Behind the tough veneer, he detects a vulnerability that makes his heart ache. It takes Chris quite a while to gain Tori's trust. When he does, he finds she's hiding a beautiful soul, a poetic heart, and a whole lot of hurt. Chris begins to fall in love.
Tori can't believe she has allowed Chris to get behind the armor she erected a long time ago to keep from being hurt. She swore, after being abused by her mother's husband, that she would never, ever trust a man. From Tori's perspective, Chris is unbelievably innocent. She starts out making fun of him, and ends up more in love than she ever thought she could be.
In the midst of big city violence, high school stress, family problems, and the normal angst of teenagers, Chris and Tori discover in each other a safe haven, a place where they can escape from the frightening out of control world they live in.
Gracie C. McKeever has crafted a novel that goes beyond genre categorization. Her talent is evident in every compelling page of this story, which,, while it is about kids, is definitely an adult book. It is poignant, revealing, and almost painfully honest. Parents should read it to get a glimpse behind their teenager's rebellious bravado and to gain insight into how kids deal with growing up. Teens should read it to see that there are adults who understand their struggle. Everyone who loves a great story should read Miles To Go, because it is an exceptional book. | | |
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