The synopsis is not at all what the book actually delivers, which is a melodramatic, too-long novel where the narrator-protagonist whines like a mosquito. Would you like some cheese with that whine? There's a vineyard full of whine in this book, and a small dairy operation of cheese to go with it! It seemed like the book would have begun with Becca having applied for the scholarship on the first page, and the rest of the book would be her dealing with her new circumstances, and dedicated to why her life was supposedly being threatened. She applies for the scholarship halfway through the book. Ninety percent of this book is Becca's thoughts and feelings about nothing really. Something about college scholarships, a paragraph about her mom, a page about her dad, and blahblah college versus hiding our identities blahblah we're poor and I can't have friends BLAH. Sooo much of this is implausible and inaccurate. Legal trials and guilty pleas rarely lead to blackmailing by skeezy attorneys. Come on. Kids and parents in Witness Security (protection) programs and fleeing domestic violence relationships can and do lead normal lives and have jobs and play sports and stuff, just under different names and in different places. This is much better explored in "Black and Blue" by Anna Quindlen, and there's memoirs out there from kids, now adults, who were in Witness Protection because of something their parents got involved in. This book is just stupid. Many plot points are implausible, and the last three chapters are mind-blowingly unrealistic and a sad attempt at action.

Whitney Court is a character that's only on the actual page for five pages itself, despite a huge mystery and plot point being built around her. Why was she even in there? Why schizophrenia, no matter how compassionate her parents were to her? Why on earth did she fly out every year to read essays about how great she was before her schizophrenia set in? How would that help a mentally ill person -at all-? "You suck now that you're sick! Let's design a scholarship around who you were before your illness! You peaked in high school!" Whitney Court is not only a Road to Nowhere, she's a massive Big Lipped Alligator Moment. Becca's -reaction- to her was supposed to be this plot transition but it was just her screeching instead of whining. Guidance counselors are useless, and Whitney's parents especially should have known that. They're certainly not going to be able to recommend psychiatric services for such a misunderstood illness that is hard to treat. They counsel on education and career stuff, NOT PSYCHIATRIC.

The mom was useless as a character. If they'd written notes or texted each other supportive things, I'd be happier because the novel would be more interesting! The mom just whispered about how scared she was and worked a lot. The friends have absolutely no characterization and are barely on the page. I hate to say it, but they were there so Haddix could check off diversity boxes. I was more interested in their lives than a whiny rich girl turned poor! Memories of Becca's dad should have been explored at length beyond wailing about his crimes. She says within the first few chapters she was close to her dad. Tell me about it! But noooo, this is college scholarship my life sucks no friends BLAHBLAH. It is -so- unlikely she wouldn't have social media. Most teens would have sneaked it earlier on their friends' phones, or in the computer lab, orrr at a LIBRARY. Those EXIST. But for some reason she accesses it from an adult's phone near the end of the book? Come on. The now/then device and chapter headings were absolutely pointless and annoying. Most of the book is "now" and memories could have been smoothly folded in but nooo, Haddix chose stupid melodrama. Does she not know how to write anything happy, or even the narrator-protagonist reaching her own peace about the whole situation?.

There are several programs to provide financial aid for children with incarcerated parents. I haaaated that the book pushed forth the opposite idea for "plot' purposes. I was so worried that a kid IRL would read this book and think it was true, and decide not to even try to apply. How irresponsible of Haddix! And all that DRRRRRAMAA about social security numbers and dying the hair--THIS IS COMMON. Read Anna Quindlen's book "Black and Blue" or a witness protection memoir because THEY ADDRESS THIS FAR MORE REALISTICALLY AND RESPECTFULLY. Why did Haddix even write this? She obviously thinks her audience is rock stupid and incarcerated parents are something to make fun of. UGH. Teens also have lives outside of getting into college. Becca hardly mentions getting crushes or having hobbies or reading books or movies or whatever. She never spends time with friends who clearly want to; just whines and is scared. Insufferable AND poorly characterized.

Skip this. ( )

This review is also available on my blog,
Okay, okay, enough examples. My point is that I could totally own what Becca was going through, college-wise, and that Full Ride came alive to me in a whole new way because of it. But the really neat thing was that when I read it for the first time, I didn't have that angle and I still really enjoyed it. Full Ride is multi-focused enough that you could read it from quite a few different backgrounds, and get different things out each time. This makes it a great re-read as you go through life, because as you discover more about different issues Becca is struggling with (and watches others struggle with), you will find more and more angles in the book that interest you.

Of course, having so many different balls in the air at the same time means that a few of them get dropped by the end of the book - no, "dropped" isn't the right word. They get "sidelined." Mrs. Haddix opts for a dramatic and relatively fulfilling ending, but she leaves a lot of storylines up for grabs. I for one would have liked to read more about Becca's relationship with her friends, how it shifts as they come to grips with the new knowledge they gain as the book goes along. Do they question everything they ever thought they knew about her? Do they feel tricked? Or do they just blink for a minute, go "okay," and keep moving? I don't know, I think that could have been explored a little more.

Altogether, though, it's a very well-written and engaging book, with lots of really interesting topics woven together. And as for the true test of my feelings toward Full Ride? Yeah, I stayed up until after midnight re-reading it. In another year or two, I'll probably do that again. ( )

Great, fast read. ( )

Becca's father is sent to prison for embezzlement, so she and her mother flee the notoriety and hatred associated with his actions. When Becca reaches her final year of high school, she finds out that applying for financial aid and scholarships will not be an easy process since it will dig up her past. Then, she finds out something even more alarming - one that could threaten her life.
Not one of my favorite Haddix novels, because Becca spends too much time anguishing over how unfair her life is and it just isn't that interesting. ( )

Becca Jones was 13 when her father was sent to prison. Now 17, with college applications looming she is questioning why they have to hide their identities. ( )