This fast-paced little novel by Brent Hartinger tells the tales of two boys, Manny and Harlan, who seem to have opposite lives. In alternating chapters, Hartinger introduces two high-school kids who seem to be worlds apart. Harlan, 17, the gorgeous, brilliant son of a rich senator, appears to have it all; he never notices that his dad is always busy or that his mom is a control freak. Manny, also 17, is a theater geek, the child of a poor, nurturing single-parent dad, who has secrets that he won't share with his son. But the boys are alike in at least one way: both have panic attacks and recurring nightmares about drowning and being hit by a truck. Harlan's battle with his demonic mother is too purposive (his panic attacks will stop if he stands up to her), and readers may be confused about who's dreaming what until the plot cleverly twists to reveal a surprise.
The minor characters are nicely drawn, including Harlan's best friend, Ricky, who is gay. Manny's best friend, Elsa, is deaf, and their signing talk is relaxed and friendly. This story reads simply and is in fact rated for grades 7-10, making this a fast weekend read. While not of outstanding quality, I read till the end, wanting to know the 'big secret'. While a little predictable--or at least, guessable--it forces the reader to stop and reevaluate, to question everything that happened before.
While not completely original, Hartinger avoided cliches where he could and it shows. Good, solid writing.
Three out of five stars
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