The Fixes

Matthews (How to Win at High School) again takes on the Breaking Bad–like descent of a once-innocent, rule-following teen. Eric Connelly is fed up with his boring life, with being closeted about his sexuality, and with listening to his senator father drone on about his future. A chance meeting with the wealthy, handsome Jordan provokes dizzying romantic fantasies, and soon Eric is partying hard and missing work to spend time with Jordan’s privileged crowd, which calls itself the “Suicide Pack.” Soon they are doing more than partying: they destroy priceless art and move on to felony theft and bomb-making, all in the name of “fixing” what’s wrong with their town. As Eric’s romantic hopes turn into reality, he sheds his hesitations around this escalating crime spree. Matthews’s cheeky, third-person, prose-poem style fuels the surreal feel of this larger-than-life story. Plot- and character-wise, Matthews is retreading his previous book somewhat, including a tendency to speak conspiratorially to readers, but those who enjoyed Adam’s story in How to Win at High School should have just as much fun with this wild ride, too. Ages 14–up. Agency: Donald Maass Literary. (Aug.)