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Library | Call Number | Status |
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Searching... Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Library | YA FIC SCH | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Salem Main Library | TEEN FICTION Schreiber, J. | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Ferris Bueller meets La Femme Nikita in this funny, action-packed young adult novel.It's prom night--and Perry just wants to stick to his own plan and finally play a muchanticipated
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."
Author Notes
Joe Schreiber is the author of adult novels DEATH TROOPERS, CHASING THE DEAD and EAT THE DARK. This is his first young adult novel.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up-Perry Stormaire is more than happy to skip senior prom for a New York City gig with his band, but his parents insist that he attend the event with Gobi, their frumpy Lithuanian exchange student, as his date. The pair makes a quick appearance at the dance before Perry gives in to the girl's curious request to go downtown to Jay-Z's 40/40 Club. There, Gobi transforms into a femme fatale, much to Perry's confusion and delight. It turns out that Gobi is actually a 24-year-old, highly skilled assassin on a mission to avenge her sister's murder-and she convinces Perry to be her chauffeur and accomplice. The amusing all-night caper turns deadly serious as Gobi takes out one mark after another. The evening ends with a literal bang after the duo makes a particularly far-fetched leap to safety from the 47th floor of an office building. Perry is an endearingly earnest protagonist, and Gobi is pure male fantasy-an impossibly tough assassin with a heart of gold, who actually seems to fall for Perry before the night is out. Steven Boyer narrates Joe Schreiber's exciting story (Houghton, 2011) and does an excellent job of voicing Gobi's Lithuanian accent, distinguishing between supporting characters, and teasing out the novel's sly humor. What it lacks in subtlety, it makes up for in sheer adrenaline. Violence, animal cruelty, and references to torture and human trafficking make this listen suitable for older teens.-Amy Pickett, Ridley High School, Folsom, PA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
"I'm eighteen years old. In a month I'm going to graduate, I'm waitlisted at Columbia... and this-whatever this is-isn't part of the plan." That's Perry Stormaire as his prom night goes from disaster, when he's forced to escort dowdy Lithuanian exchange student Gobija Zaksauskas, to something more like Kill Bill after Gobi turns out to be a stunningly effective (and also stunning) assassin. What follows is a whirlwind night of explosions, shootings, stabbings, and car chases as they traverse Manhattan and Brooklyn with Gobi picking off targets over Perry's protests. As if this situation wasn't stressful enough, adult author Schreiber opens each chapter of his YA debut with a college admissions essay question ("You've just written a 300-page autobiography. Send us page 217"), which should provide a few more palpitations. It's very well targeted at male teens, with a breakneck pace, quick repartee, hot cars and women, a well-rendered New York City backdrop, abundant action, and some food for thought about what it means to be a man. Plain and simple, it's a blast. A couple of them, actually. Ages 12-up. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
When high school senior Perry Stormaire's parents make him take the family's awkward Lithuanian exchange student, Gobi, to the prom, he winds up as part of a gorgeous trained assassin's plan to kill five targets by daybreak, with the skilled killer none other than formerly frumpy Gobi. Forced at gunpoint to trek through New York City with Gobi as she completes her mission, naive Perry slowly discerns the noble motivations behind Gobi's killing spree. Her in-depth planning leaves nothing to chance, and as the night progresses Perry's whole family becomes embroiled in Gobi's dangerous plan ("Families get hurt, Perry. There are no guarantees this side of the grave"). Perry learns that appearances can be deceiving as he uncovers hidden truths about his father and his dad's boss. He also re-evaluates his complex relationship with his father and reassesses his college plans. To connect the latter subplot, each chapter begins with a different college application essay question that links to its corresponding chapter's contents; Schreiber provides a twist at the end that reveals the true reason for their inclusion. Perfect for action adventure junkies who will enjoy the car chases, thugs, graphic killing scenes, explosions, and a random bear fight, Schreiber's debut novel also contains enough humor, sexual tension, distinctive language, and character development to make this more than just a quick thrill read. cynthia k. ritter (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
In Schreiber's debut novel for teens, an awkward high-school exchange student morphs into a beautiful assassin, changing a boring prom night into a dangerous race against time.Perry, a senior in high school, is focused on three things: his internship at his father's law office, playing guitar and, most of all, getting accepted into Columbia University. His mother, in an attempt to infuse some culture into their family, decides they should host a foreign exchange student. The socially awkward and unattractive Gobi is at best invisible and at worst a target for ridicule. Her one request before returning home is to attend the prom with Perry as her date. Under duress, Perry agrees to take her. However, Gobi has other plans, insisting he drive her to Manhattan instead. There she leads Perry on a killing spree that culminates in a confrontation with a very deadly and very familiar adversary. Stilted dialogue, unlikable characters and scenes that seem patched together from dozens of familiar action movies are only a sampling of this novel's many problems. Readers will quickly become frustrated with the predictable plot, overly familiar setting and Perry's obtuseness, though the framing device of college-application essay questions is mildly amusing.Filled with gratuitous violence, unnecessary vulgarity and unending clich, this story often slides from merely bad into truly offensive. (Thriller. 14 up)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Sad-sack Perry is going to miss his band Inchworm's first big show because his mom is making him take their dumpy, awkward exchange student, Gobija, to the prom. Decked out in a rented tux and a frumpy Lithuanian ceremonial costume, respectively, the two teens suffer through the typical prom moments until all hell breaks loose. Gobi turns out to be an international assassin (and mind-blowingly hot under her disguise), Perry steals his uptight dad's Jag, Inchworm plays for a record exec, and bodies fly out windows at Jay-Z's club. What follows are captures, tortures, machine guns, a helicopter rescue, and a kiss that is, like this addictive first novel for teens, a long, intoxicating dive through a sea of Red Bull. But this up-all-night-in-NYC romp is more than just a Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (2006) rip-off. Perry begins to realize deeper truths about himself and his family as the motives behind Gobi's brutal mission become clear. Brief chapters each begin with a college-entrance essay prompt, juxtaposing Perry's life-or-death situation with the artificially high stakes of his life hanging out on Columbia's wait list. Although the Hollywood ending may leave a few eyes rolling, most readers will turn the last page of this delirious debut with smiles on their faces and triumphant fists in the air.--Booth, Heather Copyright 2010 Booklist