Still Waters

February 9, 2015
Debut author Parsons turns in an edgy thriller about a teenager whose propensity for violence gets him caught up in deadly matters. Jason just wants to save up enough money so he and his sister can escape their abusive father. When a rich, popular classmate, Michael, offers Jason $50 a day to hang out with the in crowd and act as muscle, Jason takes the deal, even though he knows he’s selling out. But Michael is involved in some shady stuff, and matters quickly escalate into open violence, armed robbery, and possibly murder. Jason is in too far to back out, and he’s also falling for Michael’s sultry girlfriend, Cyndra. The result is a dark, fast-paced, and violent crime drama about desperation and revenge that explores a complex moral dynamic. The plot is a little too Byzantine for its own good—some twists are unmemorable, and the climax borders on chaotic—but Jason’s flaws and rough edges help create a rounded, dimensional character, and his narrative is stark and compelling. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House.

February 1, 2015
A down-on-his-luck teen is made an offer he can't refuse.Jason and his sister, Janie, are stuck with their abusive, alcoholic father in the worst part of town. The pair scrimp and save anything they can and dream of one day having enough cash to strike out on their own. So when high school it boy Michael drives up in his vintage Mustang and offers Jason $50 a day to hang out with him, Jason has little reason to turn him down. The results of this arrangement prove to be less than advantageous. The author weaves a web of lies and deceit around Jason, so much so that readers will barely know whom to trust less, Michael or the enigmatic and impossibly sexy Cyndra. As Jason tries to figure out who's playing what and for whom, readers get a look at a fully formed but terribly damaged individual. Less interesting are most of the other characters, all drawn with broad strokes. This makes the novel a bit repetitive in the middle, when Jason gets into a cycle of brooding, then trusting a bit, and then brooding again once new information comes to light several times over. The novel's ending is also far too "happily ever after" considering all the angst that came before, making for a jarring tonal experience. An uneven debut, but Parsons shows real promise with Jason's characterization. (Fiction. 12-16)

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January 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Jason is a high school student who has grown up to be a fighter. The abuse he's suffered at his father's hands toughened him up so much that he solves more problems with his fists than with his words. Then Michael, one of the most popular boys in school, offers to pay him to hang out with his group of friends every day. Jason doesn't understand why Michael wants this, but he does know that the money can help him and his sister achieve their dream of running away to start a new life. The more Jason learns about Michael's twisted motivations, the more he realizes that he's stuck between a rock and a hard place. This is a provocative and suspenseful book, centering on a boy who's difficult to like at first. But as readers get to know him and understand how and why he has that tough exterior, they will find themselves worrying about him more and more. Still Waters features well-drawn characters, realistic dialogue, and ethical dilemmas that many readers have already faced or might have to face in the future. A great choice for reluctant readers, fans of books with male protagonists, and lovers of survivor stories.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2015
Grades 9-12 Parsons adeptly takes on the teenage male perspective in her gritty debut. High-schooler Jason has a reputation for being able to take a punch, having learned how to steel himself against Dad's punches at home. When his privileged classmate Michael offers him $50 a day to hang out with him as pseudo protection, it's a no-brainer for Jason, eager to stash away more money in his fund to secure a future for him and his younger sister. But as Michael's requests become increasingly dangerous and Jason's relationship with Michael's girlfriend, Cyndra, becomes more complicated, Jason is pressed for an escape. Though the extreme polarization of the community50-room mansions and trailer parks in the same townrequires some suspension of disbelief, Parsons creates deeply felt characters. Jason's tough exterior belies a complex inner life as he constantly weighs his not-so-great options. Tight plotting combined with raw voice and emotion will propel readers through this thriller. Keep an eye on Parsons.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2016
Gr 9 Up-High school senior Jason is one angry guy with a don't-mess-with-me reputation. Abused by his psychotic father, Jason spends his time trying to keep his little sister safe while dealing with the overwhelming rage that threatens to control him. In order to earn money to set up a new life elsewhere with his sister, Jason accepts a job as a bodyguard/mentor/pseudofriend to a popular senior boy, but the job quickly spirals into illegal territory. Nick Cordero narrates in the first person in an angry voice, perfectly portraying the brooding quality of this multidimensional character. VERDICT Parsons's debut is an emotionally intense, discussion-worthy novel, with gruesome violence that can be difficult to listen to at times. ["Features well-drawn characters, realistic dialogue, and ethical dilemmas that many readers have already faced or might have to face in the future": "SLJ" 1/15 review of the Philomel book.]-"Julie Paladino, formerly of East Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill, NC"

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.