Pushing Perfect

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 6, 2015

Review

Kara, an overachieving teen whose anxiety disorder prevented her from finishing the SAT is convinced by her new friend Alex to try a drug that is in trials but not yet legal that Alex tells her will help her manage her anxiety so that she may score well during the re-take. Kara's attempts to conceal both her panic attacks and a skin condition she developed during middle school have caused her to distance herself from her friends, which has left her feeling isolated, so Kara is as much interested in Alex's friendship as she is in the drug, and is also smitten with Alex's pal Raj, who sells her the pills. However, when Kara begins receiving text messages from an unknown number and becomes embroiled in a web of blackmail, she soon discovers she's not alone.

This intricately plotted story will appeal to fans of Ally Carter's Heist Society series and other whodunnit style mysteries. There are plenty of twists and turns and a large cast of characters to keep the audience guessing and the eventual reveal of the blackmailer will likely come as a surprise to many. Kara is a somewhat uneven character - readers will feel sympathy for her initially, but her shunning of her old friends seems a bit hard-hearted, despite the reasons behind it. Additionally, her anxiety seems to be conveniently much easier to manage as the story progresses, despite the fact that she swears off the drug and is dealing with some pretty intense stress around the blackmail issue, making it an unrealistic presentation of anxiety disorders.

Established teen mystery fans may well enjoy this one, but it's not likely to appeal widely.

Overall Book Score: fair