Description:
In a dark parking lot outside an amphitheater, crowds are gathering for tailgate parties. A young guitarist climbs up on the hood of a white pickup truck, pulls an old battered fedora down over his eyes, and begins to belt out "Night Train," a driving, electric song, while his brother works the crowd, selling tapes. The buskers are Daniel Friesen, 16-year-old blues man, and his 18-year-old brother Jens, a new--not used--car salesman. But Jens is more of an ex-salesman now, since he was fired two days ago. The pickup truck belongs to his ex-boss. These brothers are on the road and on the run, desperately trying to earn $5,000 to repay a shifty music producer. With them they carry not only guitars and amps, but a heavy load of love, resentment, and fury toward each other. When Jens discovers that Daniel drinks too much and has a sexy 22-year-old girlfriend, his protectiveness and jealousy boil over. His anger is exacerbated by the secret knowledge that Daniel will always be sure of who he is, while Jens can't even be certain that he's their father's son. With Drive, Canadian young adult novelist Diana Wieler (known in the U.S. for Bad Boy) has written an intense story of two young men testing themselves against the world--together and alone. Older teens, and particularly fans of Rob Thomas's Rats Saw God, will be entranced, intrigued, and enlightened. (Ages 13 and older) --Patty Campbell
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