Call the Shots

“[A]ll we ever get out of Coop’s schemes are headaches and heartbreaks,” opines high school sophomore Sean, who gets his turn narrating in this third volume about the misadventures of three boys that began with Swim the Fly. Coop’s latest idea is to make a low-budget horror film. Neither Sean nor Matt are interested until Sean’s parents announce there’s a baby on the way. With Coop’s emphasis on the commercial aspects of filmmaking (“The idea is to make something that will sell. Quality is secondary”), Sean signs on, hoping to earn enough to add an extension to his house so he won’t have to share a room with his twin sister, Cathy, a truly unpleasant character. Naturally, complications ensue, as Sean inadvertently becomes linked romantically with a possibly psychotic ninth-grader, while trying to nurture a relationship with Leyna, a hot classmate, and fend off advances from Cathy’s BFF, Nessa. (Sean’s “lightsaber” fully extends in his shorts many, many times.) Those who enjoyed the first two books will find a hefty helping of more raunchy fun. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Sept.)