Joyride

Carly Vega has no life. Ever since her illegal immigrant parents got deported following an auto accident, she's done nothing but go to school and work the night shift at a rundown convenience store. And try to fly under the radar. She gives her older brother Julio almost everything she earns so he can save enough to buy passage back into the country for their parents and two siblings they've never seen. When Cletus, an older man who is generally inebriated , comes into the store like he does most nights, things in her life take a big turn. Carly realizes that a masked man has accosted Cletus just before he gets into his truck and is holding a gun. Carly doesn't stop to think, she grabs the shotgun under the counter, slips over the top and rushes out to confront the robber, even though she's terrified and doesn't have a clue how to fire the weapon. After an odd standoff, the would-be robber backs off, but not before stealing her bike to make his getaway. Thus begins one of the more unusual and prickly romances you'll encounter in a YA novel. The masked man is Arden Moss, former football star and son of the racist sheriff who deported Carly's parents. He'd been trying to scare his grandfather into stopping his driving while drunk. Even though he's had classes with Carly, he, like nearly everyone else at school, hasn't paid any attention to her. Now he can't stop thinking about her, so he connives until he gets her to be his pranking accomplice, something he's missed since his older sister who had schizophrenia, killed herself. Watching these two strong willed teens edge closer, fall in love and deal with several serious situations makes for a really engrossing read and one that I liked a lot. This is a great book to add to any school or public library.

I can’t even explain how disappointed I am in this book. It had such hopes on being a great story but the characters were the worst. First of all, Carly’s family. What are wrong with these people? They put so much pressure on this poor girl. They actually tell her school isn’t important, making more money for your family is and the money she’s making isn’t good enough for them. It isn’t until she’s gets a second job that they finally feel that she’s doing enough. Then when it comes out that she’s been doing normal 16 yr old stuff her brother is horrible to her. He also tries to guilt her for buying something for herself out of her pay. Arden is an idiot. The fact that he couldn’t understand why someone wouldn’t blow off their responsibilities to hang out with him, after he pulled a gun on her, is just plain crazy. Then he finally realizes she’s poor. He thought she wore off brand clothes and insisted on working night shift at a gas station for the heck of it. It finally dawns on him because she wears the same shoes everyday. Really idiot? That’s what gave it away? Arden’s jerk of a father is I believe the devil incarnated. I’ve read about some bad people before but he’s pretty close to the top of the list. The only person I even liked was Cletus the elderly drunk. He was the only one that expected Carly to be what she was and accept her for it. This could’ve a hit with the story line but it fell so far below. The only good thing about this book is I know who to give it to. While waiting on it to get here my daughter happened to mention hearing about it and planning to see if the library had it. I told her I was waiting for it to be delivered and she snatched it up as soon as it came. She absolutely loved the story so now she will own it.

Can’t get the sticker off the cover first of all, second, can’t get through the first chapter. Loved all of Anna Banks other books but this one is just hard to read.

Bought this to read with my niece. I read it, she didn't. Good story but I was hoping she would actually pick the book up!

Great book! :)

This is a solid contemporary read that takes on issues present and potent today: immigration, racism, corrupt police, entrapment, and undocumented persons, all in a hot bed of politically conservative ideology: Florida.Carly's parents were deported to Mexico three years ago. She and her brother, Julio, were born in the US, and stayed behind to work hard for the exorbitant fees charged by "El Libratador," a known human smuggler, to bring their parents safely back across the border and Texas desert. She works the graveyard shift at a convenience store because it's quiet enough for her to also study at the same time. She has a favorite customer who comes in nightly, minutes before closing--Cletus Shackleford. One night, as Carly is closing for the night, she sees Cletus being held up by a masked gunman and she jumps into action.Arden Moss, sheriff's son and general ne'er-do-well, hasn't had a good night's sleep in a year, not since his schizophrenic sister died. He balmes his father for hushing up her disease and denying her the healthcare that could have kept Amber happy and alive, for fear that it would have harmed his political career. Arden is a known prankster--but he only targets people that have more attitude than sense. He tries to scare his great-uncle Cletus off driving while intoxicated, but the feisty cashier is nearly more than he can handle.It is that moment of kismet which brings this spheres into orbit--though Carly does reject ever overture that Arden makes to connect them. He's not physically attracted at first--what Arden wants is a co-conspirator in his pranks. This was something he had done with his sister, and he feels the lack.Over the course of a few weeks, Arden helps Carly find a new, better paying job, and their friendship is tentative, but growing in strength. Carly has missed out and many elements of childhood living with her brother and working for her parents' transit fees. Just as things seem to be going well, Arden's racist father learns of their connection. His entire election platform was on deportation of undocumented immigrants, and his eagerness to separate his son from the (supposed) immigrant filth that is Carly is palpable.Arden is intransigent, but he's also reckless, and when one of his pranks goes awry it is Carly who is under the sheriff's boot. Quick thinking saves her from incarceration, but her parents' transit is in jeopardy. And Carly's big brother is major league ticked off. The only bargain that can be arranged is a "voluntary" separation, enforced by the "good" sheriff--but will a man of his power use it for good? Or, for his own good...This book was quite a good ride, even if virtually none of it was joyful. Through her relationship with Arden, Carly sees herself the most clear as ever--her life is in service to others, namely her parents. She has sacrificed so much to bring them back, and the final analysis proves she has little to show for all that work. Arden is desperate to have his pain acknowledged. His mother is too tripped out on sedatives, not even sensing her grief after her daughter's death, to really care about Arden's troubles. And his dad is too busy proving to their community that he's a martyr for his office. He sweeps Arden's messes aside, but won't take responsibility for his own missteps. Plus, he's a bona fide racist.Both Arden and Carly have grief to overcome, but the danger in their relationship is accessibility; the Sheriff seems to be fixed on removing Carly from Arden's equation--even if Arden has been better behaved under her diligent influence.The resolution became cloak-and-dagger, and seemed a bit rushed, but the story was otherwise tight, with real issues discussed throughout. I totally loved elderly, ornery Uncle Cletus, his whiskey addiction notwithstanding. This is a solid contemporary teen read which is completely clean on the romance-side of it.