Ripslinger's (Triangle) novel about a romance between Iowa teen athletes is likely to sustain readers' interest but doesn't quite gel in the end. Narrator Danny has a crush on loner basketball star Angel McPherson, and he persuades her to give him free-throw lessons (which continue even after he accidentally breaks her ankle on the court). But while sparks seem to be flying (they kiss during a rain storm), she is secretive about her home life and ignores his invitation to a party. Rumors circulate that Angel is gay, but it's actually her mother who lives with another woman. Danny knows about secrets (he says his mom died of cancer, but she was killed riding on the back of her lover's motorcycle); he promises to keep her secret, but even that doesn't convince Angel to let down her guard. Readers may appreciate the basketball player's nontraditional beauty—"no Barbie doll," she's a muscular girl who doesn't wear makeup, and Danny finds her much "hotter" than the cheerleaders who angle for his attentions. Descriptions of fishing spots, pig roasts and other local attractions evoke the setting, and Angel's discomfort about her family, and Danny's own misconceptions of gay people, come off as realistic. Unfortunately, however, Angel's ability to ice out all her peers seems extreme, and her sudden turnaround at the conclusion too dramatic. These and other unconvincing elements (e.g., Angel's calm reaction to the ankle injury) ultimately undermine the impact of the novel. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)
