Perfect Chemistry

January 1, 2009
Gr 10 Up-Told in alternating narratives, "Perfect Chemistry" portrays a romance between two unlikely lab partners. Brittany is her Chicago high school's "golden girl" but few of her friends know that her parents are totally dysfunctional and that she is highly invested in caring for her physically and mentally disabled older sister. Alex is a member of the Latino Blood, but he wishes he could leave gang life and pursue a college career. The plot thickens as Alex accepts a bet from a friend that he cannot bed Brittany by Thanksgiving. Smoldering doesn't quite do justice to the romantic banter that sparks between them. As the story unfolds, Alex is incarcerated and later hospitalized. Raw language and Spanish phrases that Anglo readers might feel obligated to investigate further are peppered throughout. The pace picks up too quickly at the end, leaving readers wondering if they missed something as time that has previously been marked day by day begins to clip along in five-month increments. Overall though, this is a solid romance that's suitable for reluctant readers."Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2008
Grades 9-12 Tough guyAlex is primarily known by his classmates as a dangerous member of the Latino Bloods gang. Hes not exactly thrilled when Brittany Ellis, the schools seemingly perfect beauty queen, is assigned as his lab partnerand the feeling is more than mutual. But Alexs bravado works against him when he impulsively accepts a bet that he can get Brittany in the sack.The romance that follows will not surprise any reader, yet Elkeles gives it heart by constantly switching point of view from Alex to Brittany to provide dual running commentaries on their minute-by-minute insecurities and urges. Brittanys controlling parents and sister with cerebral palsy are well drawn, but it is Elkeles rendition of Alex and hislife that is particularly vivid. Sprinkling his speech with Spanish, his gruff but tender interactions with his family and friends feel completely genuine. An idealized epilogue drains away some of the books realism, but if the romance angle isnt pushed too hard, this is a novel that could be embraced by male and female readers in equal measure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2009
Brittany and Alex couldn't be more different: she's her school's golden girl, and he's a tough gang member. When they are partnered for chemistry class, however, each one realizes there's more beneath the other's surface image. The two do have an unmistakable attraction, but self-conscious writing and dialogue detract from the romance.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)