Gr 10 Up— Leti Rivera is crashing both literally and figuratively in this title. She has been racing her lovely sombrita car fast and furiously for years so "nothing can catch her." She dreams of becoming a female street racer. Yet at the age of 17, she is starting to run into some of the very things she is trying to leave behind—the guilt over her mother's death, her father's never-ending grief, the private high school where she doesn't fit in, her own body, and the cruel boy who wants more than she is willing to give. She holds her heart in her fist to keep it safe, and only slowly begins to release it when she is forced to stop and notice Jacob, whose gentle innocence, patience, and even height bring her joy. As Leti slowly shares her heart, a series of "crashes" not in her control are set in motion, leading toward loss and trauma. Friends and family come together to help Leti find hope, but she must drive deep within to truly overcome her fears and sadness and rescue herself while saving Jacob. Callen presents a spunky, realistic Latina in a fast-paced novel with themes of love, loss, street racing, family, and a strong Latine identity. VERDICT This novel should hold an important place in teen libraries.— Ruth Quiroa

Leticia Rivera is a pro at outracing her problems-until she isn't.Sixteen-year-old Leti is a street racer in Maryland, something her older brother and primary caregiver, Santos, taught her-from driving at age 11 to mastering auto mechanics. Santos wanted her to be confident and know that the road was hers. Attending the fancy Philmore Academy on scholarship, Ecuadorian American Leti sticks out at the private school-"my body doesn't fit into this uniform just like I don't fit into this school"-and she's not interested in the sexual advances of wealthy, popular Derek O'Neil, school quarterback and her rival on the underground racing circuit. Leti endures sexism, fat shaming, a barrage of microaggressions, and being abandoned by her best friend in favor of the popular kids, effectively solidifying her status as an outcast. She's falling for fellow outsider Jacob Fleckenstein, an autistic boy who's full of kindness and has a passion for outer space. Leti's dreaming of getting an invitation to the Underground Race, with "winnings so big they could carry me far away," when tragedy strikes. The novel starts out strong with its compelling setting, no-nonsense protagonist, and cast of quirky side characters, but it falters in melding together a love story, a tale of redemption, an underdog storyline, and a plotline about grief. Readers might stay for the action but become overwhelmed by the number of elements, some of which are executed less skillfully than others.A bumpy but largely enjoyable ride. (Fiction. 14-18)