Live a Little

Three days before the end of his senior year, Hale is in a state of panic. He still has to prepare a lab report and give a presentation and, on top of that, he is expected to fix a farewell chili supper for his rock-star younger sister before she leaves on tour. Meanwhile, Hale's kooky lab partner, Zoe, and his best friend, Sonny, need his help carrying out a wild scheme to find out what is really going on between Sonny's ex-girlfriend and her slick new boyfriend. Almost before Hale knows it, he has joined Sonny and Zoe on a ""spy"" mission and, with them, ends up dodging bullets as well as the police. Combining romantic drama with slapstick comedy, Neenan (In Your Dreams) takes absurd situations to their limit while making some astute observations about adolescent growing pains. For the most part, Hale, a reluctant hero, plays straight man for his two more unconventional friends, but his character deepens with the growth of his affection for Zoe and his compassion for Sonny. Offering action and laughs in every chapter, this zesty contemporary novel has a little something for everyone. Ages 12-up. (Sept.)