Emily and Lucas crossed paths when they both witnessed a classmate being attacked at a football game and chose not to assist her. They are now earning community service hours by assisting at a center for adults with disabilities. Meanwhile, Belinda, who was able to fight off her attacker, is at home, too afraid to return to school. Emily thinks all football players (like Lucas) are dumb jocks, while Lucas is too proud to come down off his society-imposed pedestal to interact with lowly Emily. Somehow the two of them must work together to apologize to Belinda and make things right.
I am glad for another book featuring a protagonist with a disability, and I appreciated the way Belinda stood up for herself and was able to return to school, in spite of her grandmother's objections. I am glad for the punishment Emily and Lucas received and that they were able to learn about a different segment of the population and grow to feel compassion for them. The whole "we're going to put on a play at the last minute and it will totally work and be awesome" idea was ridiculous, but probably exactly the type of thing teens would think would work. I saw the obvious connections between Belinda's obsession with Pride and Prejudice and Emily and Lucas's relationship, and it was an interesting addition. I didn't love this book, but I do like it.
Recommended for: teens
Red Flags: Belinda is attacked and groped at the football game
Overall Rating: 3/5 stars
Read-Alike Recommendations: Girls Like Us, Speak, All the Rage
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