Gr 10 Up -- [Lurlene]McDaniel is known for her “crying and dying” novels, but this one is not her usual fare. Ms. “Lori-to-my-friends” Settles is about 30 years old and built like a centerfold. Her tight clothing and stiletto heels have made an impression on students and administration alike, but especially on Ryan Piccoli, a handsome, motherless freshman whose dad is a traveling salesman. When he and his history teacher start an affair, it spirals into more than perhaps either of them had bargained for. McDaniel asks readers to determine who is predator and who is prey. To most readers, the answer will seem obvious, but the troubling final chapter, in Ryan’s voice, may leave not only an unpleasant taste, but also a nugget of doubt. The story is packed with illicit sex, underage drinking, and frank adult situations, and it comes right out of today’s headlines. Ultimately, it is about a broken trust in what is meant to be a respectful relationship. McDaniel’s fans are sure to find it thought-provoking.
       
           --  Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta