Published May 2012 Egmont Books
From the publisher:
It's prom night - and Perry just wants to stick to his own plan and finally play a much-anticipated gig with his band in the Big Apple. But when his mother makes him take Gobija Zaksauskas - their quiet, geeky Lithuanian exchange student - to the prom, he never expects that his ordinary high school guy life will soon turn on its head. Perry finds that Gobi is on a mission, and Perry has no other choice but to go along for a reckless ride through Manhattan's concrete grid with a trained assassin in Dad's red Jag. Infused with capers, car chases, heists, hits, henchmen, and even a bear fight, this story mixes romance, comedy, and tragedy in a true teen coming-of-age adventure - and it's not over until it's 'au revoir'.
One of my favourite books is Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan, and there were a number of similarities with this book. Two teenagers on a night out in New York, their relationship developing as the night unfolds. Just a few differences...Perry and Gobi hate each other, and their night is spent with Gobi on a killing spree and Perry trying to escape!
Gobi has spent a year with Perry's family as a Lithuanian exchange student. She keeps to herself, and Perry has not had much to do with her. Finding out that he has to take her to the Prom is not exactly high in his must do list. When their time at the prom doesn't quite go as planned, the pair end up in Manhattan where their first stop at the 40/40 club results in a dead man sprawled on the bonnet of Perry's Dads shiny red Jag. Gobi has transformed from the meek, oily hair-ed high school student in to a gorgeous raven haired 23 year old assassin on a mission to seek vengeance.
I am not sure I have read anything like this book. There have been lots of books that are action packed, be it Alex Rider, Cherub, HIVE or Chris Ryan, but this is one bloody death after another, with a comedy element thrown in. There's death by gunshot and stabbing, with a little bit of torture thrown in. This may sound quite horrific and you may wonder why you would want this book in your library? Well, alongside the bloodshed there is the story of Perry and his relationship with his Father. His whole life, Perry has done whatever his Father tells him to. He quit the swim team to focus on studies, works for his Dad to get an impressive letter of recommendation for college, which means he has less time to play with his band. All of these things have made him very resentful, and this crazy night out strengthens his resolve to stand up to his Dad and take his future into his own hands.
I liked this book, like I said it's a bit different to what's been around in this market, and that appealed to me. Boys will like it, not just because of the action/girl assassin side of things, but it's written like a film, so it will appeal to boys who are not normally keen readers.
Who will like this
book: Boys age 15+
Read it if you like: action packed stories, and don't mind a bit of blood.
Read it if you like: action packed stories, and don't mind a bit of blood.
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