High-school-senior Sarah McCormick loves poetry, especially when it pours from the lips of her teacher, whom the students call by his last name: Haddings. But any relationship between them is forbidden, at least until Sarah graduates. Still, Sarah writes Haddings a letter and intends to deliver it to him at school, but on the way, she's hit by a car, driven by Haddings himself, and is rushed to the hospital for emergency brain surgery. The story, related in present tense, alternates between Sarah's and Haddings' viewpoints. Torn apart by remorse, Haddings cannot stay away from the place he is wanted the least: the surgery waiting room. A few plot devices, such as Haddings' eavesdropping, strain credibility. The story moves swiftly, though, and the battle for control between Sarah and her mother, introduced early in the book, is well portrayed as Sarah fights the battle for her recovery. One of the most interesting and realistic facets of the story centers on the uncertain process of recovering brain function and the accompanying emotional roller coaster of success and loss.

Gr 7 Up-High school senior Sarah has everything planned for college until an attractive young poetry teacher turns her head in this alternating perspectives novel. From the teacher's point of view, he has successfully rejected the teen, but for Sarah, things are not so clear. When he's at fault in an accident that nearly takes her life, secrets are slowly revealed. Despite a promising premise for a young adult novel, this title fails in its execution. The relationship doesn't come across as romantic; readers will feel uncomfortable with its predatory nature. More troubling is the unresolved ending. The characters, especially Sarah's parents, don't come across as believable, and teens will likely not relate to many of Sarah's choices and desires. The car accident aspect is reminiscent of Gayle Forman's If I Stay (Dutton, 2009). This work might find some success with those who especially enjoy the extremely dramatic, otherwise it is an additional purchase. Sarah Jones, Clinton-Macomb Public Library, MI