Bleed

Echoing motifs found in Perkins's Criss Cross and Konigsburg's A View from Saturday, this slice-of-life novel (dedicated to ""all who bleed"") shows connections between teens who are struggling with personal conflicts. August 12 (the date when the story takes place) proves to be an eventful day for all 10 characters profiled here. High-school student Nicole loses her virginity to the boyfriend of her best friend, Kelly. Meanwhile, Kelly, who is in California visiting her father, prepares to go to a diner where she will meet Robby, the ex-convict with whom she has been exchanging letters for five and a half years. When the date turns out badly, Robby comes dangerously close to committing a second crime when a waitress from the diner crosses his path at the wrong time. The story continues, revealing a new case of neurotic, dangerous or compulsive behavior in nearly every chapter as Stolarz (Blue Is for Nightmares) introduces each subsequent character. Following a circular trail of betrayals and acts of revenge, readers who yearn for some positive developments will have to wait until the last few chapters, when a few sporadic signs of love and friendship do spring forth. Although the book ends on a somewhat positive note, the message, which remains rather murky, is greatly overshadowed by characters' foibles and obsessions. Ages 12-up.