Thirteen-year-old Jackson has just moved to the suburbs with his mother, Valerie, an aspiring singer. They no longer live in a rough part of the city, and Valerie has escaped from her drug-dealing boss. Soon Jackson has a best friend and a potential girlfriend, and Valerie has a decent new job. Though life isn't perfect, it seems nice and normal. However, when Valerie starts receiving creepy phone calls and a mysterious blue Mustang appears in the neighborhood, Jackson wonders if everything is normal after all.
Summary Jackson’s father drowned when he was small. Jackson and his mother, a club singer, have moved fourteen times. Their latest move, to Homelands, is an attempt to hide after Jackson’s mother saw something she should not have at the Blue Moon Casino. In his new school Jackson befriends Asim, who shares his interests, especially his interest in numbers, and Esmerelda, who is looking for something different in her life. Esmerelda’s friendship with Jackson angers Badman, who begins to harass Jackson. When a gangster from the casino looking to scare Jackson’s mother mistakenly kidnaps Badman and Esmerelda, Jackson and Asim set out to rescue them.
Topics Numbers. Obsessions. The suburbs. Singing. Parents. Jazz. Gangsters. Math. Exams. Bullies. Auditions. Fireworks. Possums. Refugees. The beach. Teaching. Stalkers. Fighting. Standing up for yourself. Bikes. Cars. Being attacked. Prowlers. Preventing a crime. Kidnappings. Mistaken identities. Exchanging secrets. Disappearances. Clues. Rescues. Concerts.
SRC Level 4.500000
SRC Points 20.000000
Lexile 740L
Trim Size 5 1/16" x 7 3/4"
Language English
JLG Release Date Sep 2007
Minimum grade 6
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
Advanced Readers (Grades 6-8)
Advanced Readers
Advanced Readers (Grades 6-8)
For Grades 6-8
Your pre-teen and teen readers won't be able to get enough of these selections. The 12 books here are a bit longer than our B category titles, with more challenging storylines and a wealth of thought-provoking nonfiction.