Riding the Universe

May 4, 2009
The narrator of this uneven novel, 17-year-old Chloé Rodriguez, lives with her supportive adoptive parents, her twin baby brothers and her beloved Harley Davidson, "Lolita"-a gift from her late uncle Seth. At school, she is assigned a peer tutor, the enigmatic Gordon, to avoid failing chemistry. Though she is still reeling from her uncle's death and insists that "keeping safe from any more heartbreak is my main goal," she and Gordon begin dating. Chloé initially finds some happiness with Gordon, but their relationship is volatile. And then there is her best friend, Rock, who is interested in taking their friendship a step further. Triana (The Temptress Four) has created a well-rounded character in Chloé, from her biker chick persona to her tendency to make up portmanteau words (girlgoyle, fathomystic), but she falls short in describing Chloé's feelings about her adoption and her attempts to find her birth parents. When secrets surrounding her adoption are brought to light, the revelation seems anticlimactic. Nevertheless, the novel is well-paced and themes of family, romance and identity should resonate. Ages 12-up.

August 1, 2009
Gr 9 Up-Grieving over the recent death of her Uncle Seth, 17-year-old Chloé Rodriguez enjoys nothing more than riding her Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster, which her uncle left her, down the open highway. But her freedom is threatened by her parents' ultimatumbring up her failing chemistry grade or lose Lolita. Gordon is assigned to tutor her, and even though he is so not her type, they fall hard for one another. Meanwhile, Rock, Chloé's best friend since third grade, suddenly tells her that he loves her and always has. Chloé is torn over what to do, but the decision is made for her when Gordon decides his life plan does not include her. And Rock? He is there to pick up the pieces, as always, and Chloé learns that there are no guarantees in love but that sometimes you have to take a chance. What starts off as a cheesy premisegirl riding motorcyclesoon turns into a surprisingly well-developed story. Chloé and Rock are strong characters on an emotional rollercoaster ride trying to make sense of their feelings for one another. Even Gordon, although unwilling to change for love, draws sympathy from readers. And, the breakup between Chloé and Gordon is particularly heartbreaking. The authentic teen voices and tangible emotions make this book a satisfying read."Kelley Siegrist, Farmington Community Library, MI"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2009
Grades 10-1 Seventeen-year-old Chlo' Rodriguez does not like change. Thats why she relies on the consistency of the stars in the night sky; her best friend, Rock; and the joy of riding Lolita, the motorcycle she inherited from her beloved late uncle Seth. But if she doesnt improve her chemistry grade, no mas Lolita, Papi says, so Chlo' reluctantly accepts being peer-tutored by cute but frustratingly matter-of-fact Gordon. Soon Gordon is more than just a tutor, Rock wants to be more than friends, and, unexpectedly, Chlo' faces a world of change and some difficult truthsthough ultimately she gains important insights about her adoptive family, friends, and love. Chlo's intimate, touching, first-person narrative includes some raw language and mature scenarios. Teens will find her dilemmas about having sex and whether or not to find her birth parents compelling, and they enjoy following Chlo' as she navigates school and home life, her issues, and her discovery that opening your heart can hurtbut also heal.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2009
All high-schooler Chloe wants to do is ride her beloved motorcycle, Lolita, but life is soon complicated by romance. Additionally, curiosity about her birth parents gets the best of her, leading to a surprising revelation. Readers will find this novel, populated with well-developed characters sorting through realistically complicated relationships, difficult to put down.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)