Susan Colebank

Jayne Thompkins is the perfect, overachiever older sister while her little sister Ellie is the one who forgets her homework and gets caught fooling around with boys on her bed. Jayne is the one who's the star tennis player, the one is neck and neck for highest GPA (she checks routinely and knows how each test grade will affect things). Jayne has goals of attending Harvard. Jayne has everything figured out.

Except for what she's supposed to do now.

It was just a day like any other until accident. Jayne is rushing, not paying full attention and her car slams into another. Soon a girl is in danger of dying and Jayne is at fault. Her whole life changes in an instant.

Perfect Jayne isn't so perfect anymore.

The idea of this book (you can check Amazon for a lot more spoilers and such--after I started reading it I realised that the summary involves a lot that doesn't happen until well, well into the book, so I left some out) really did intrigue me. But then it was just sort of...okay for me when I read it. (And hard to remember as well, apparently.)

I never really cared for Jayne--I understood that she had pressure from herself and her mother about school and was trying to help her sister and I got her development though the book, but it just didn't really work for me. So much of the story is supposed to be Jayne reacting to and dealing with the consequences of those few seconds in the car but I never really felt that it was realistic. Or it was too focused on her. I understand that because she's the narrator/main character it needs to be, but...

I don't know, this book just didn't work for me-the characters, the plot's progression, it just wasn't a book for me. (Though it worked for the other Amazon reviewers!) And I'd still like to give Susan Colebank's new book a try because I really do love the premises she comes up with.… (más)

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Jayne Thompkins lives a charmed life. She gets straight A's, will probably be chosen captain of her tennis team, and plans to go to Harvard. She has a rather annoying younger sister, but her mother is somewhat of a local TV celebrity and her father is supportive and sensitive. Life couldn't get much better, unless maybe, Jayne could squeeze in a little time for a boyfriend.

One Tuesday afternoon, one cell phone call, and one red light change everything for Jayne Thompkins. Rushing to tennis practice and as usual annoyed by a call from her sister, Ellie, Jayne runs a red light and smashes into a car. A little girl riding in the front seat without a seatbelt has her neck broken. After being pronounced brain dead, the little girl is eventually removed from life support, and Jayne must live with what she's done.

Her license is suspended until age 18, she must fulfill a community service requirement, and she is required to report to a probation officer and attend counseling sessions. Jayne's life is no longer about good grades and future plans. Why not test the limits and spread her wings? Nothing really matters anymore, or at least that's the way things seem. Jayne chooses a new direction. Being more like her rebellious younger sister seems more attractive when she thinks she has nothing more to lose.

Jayne finds out that facing friends and fellow classmates is not easy. People she once counted on are no longer there for her. Pressure from her mother causes her to behave in ways she never would have dreamed possible. And to complicate matters, her community service hours put her in contact with someone who takes advantage of her lack of experience in romantic relationships.

Susan Colebank gives readers a glimpse into the world of a teen whose life is coming apart at the seams. Teens feeling that their lives are out of control will identify with Jayne's story. Seeing what it's like to hit bottom and then struggle to return to a former life makes this a definite must read.… (más)

Susan says: This book takes place in Phoenix, with real Phoenix locations to ground it. Jayne has always been the perfect older daughter, while her younger sister Ellie always seems to screw up, and Jayne covers for her. But this time Jayne is the one who screws up – she runs a red light in a hurry to get to tennis practice and crashes into another car, killing a 6 year old girl who was riding in the front seat without a seat belt. This event sends Jayne into a tailspin which makes her question everything about her life and the life she thought she wanted. Jayne has one of the worst mothers I’ve read about lately, but Jayne does come to understand her ambition eventually. There are drugs and alcohol in this book and some discussion of premarital sex. But in general, this is a good book about Jayne trying to come to terms with the tragedy and learning how to control her own life.… (más)