I read this book while interning at Leap Books.

This was a great historical fiction for upper middle graders. There is a lot of history and much of it touches the underground railroad. Much of the story revolves around the family dynamics and how to work things out. With an abusive step-dad that lashes out in anger, there are some very serious moments in this story. It contains many lessons on how to deal forgive and help people (and yourself) be accountable for your actions.

This one is going to stick with you awhile once you're finished. Even a month later something about the story will click into place in my mind and I'll have to go re-visit the story again.

I read this while interning at Leap Books where I am now a JP.

This is the continuation and conclusion to Jesse and Brooke's romance. Although I really wish I could have a book three because I can see where there could be so much more to tell.

Book two leads us up to the big race and the competition building between Jesse and Brook and the strain in puts on their relationship. There are also some pretty heavy family issues brought to light that were handled brilliantly by the author. You really felt for the people involved and started rooting for things to turn out for them.

The race itself was soooooo intense (I'd add so more o's there, but it might look bad). A perfect climax for the story and, again, Laura Lascarso wrote the racing bits in a way that I was able to really understand and fall into completely. The ending was amazingly beautiful. The kind I go back and read over and over.

I read this while interning at Leap Books, where I am now a JP.

This was a really fun romance. There was a hint of Romeo and Juliet, but not so much that I would have noticed if it hadn't been pointed out to me. Jesse is an amazing guy - but not perfect. He screws up, but he really doesn't mean to and he tries to make it better. Brook is a bit full of herself at times, and I dislike that she expects Jesse to lie for her, but that's what happens in life sometimes.

I really enjoyed the racing aspect - and I'm not a racing fan! Laura Lascarso was able to bring the art of making a race car - well, raceable (that's not a word according to spell check) - she brought it to life in a way that my totally car-illiterate mind could see.

This isn't a cliffhanger, but to see the full romance you do need to read book two.