Helpful Score: 1
his dark, disturbing novel will send shivers down the spine of every parent of a teenager. Chehak tells the timeless story of a good girl, a bad girl, and the dangers of summer in a small town. Sixteen-year-old May Caldwell has a loving family and plenty of advantages, even though she's plain looking and unadventurous. Out of the blue appears Frankie Crane, the disadvantaged "orphan" whom May's mother has taken under her wing and unofficially adopted. Unfortunately, Frankie spells trouble, first luring May into committing small sins--smoking, drinking, flirting, and driving too fast--then leading her into more advanced misdeeds, like shoplifting, adultery, and arson. Along with May's transformation from good girl to bad comes the transformation--at Frankie's hands--of the entire Caldwell family, whose pristine, pleasant life is not what it seems. Frankie's presence releases the ugly, unsavory something that's been buried for years, changing the lives of May and her family forever. A hypnotic, disturbing, compelling story from a gifted writer, this book will be a welcome addition for readers who want something out of the ordinary
