Sway
By Kate Pavao,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Complicated teen boy learns to feel again in edgy tale.
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What's the Story?
High school senior Jesse is nicknamed "Sway" because he uses his influence to get students what they want: essays, alcohol, and party drugs. In fact, the principal even employs him to help get a troublemaker expelled from school. But when a mean popular boy hires him to get a date with truly nice Bridget, things get complicated: Jesse -- who claims his mother's mental illness and suicide left him emotionally numb -- finds himself falling for Bridget and forming a surprising friendship with her younger brother, who has cerebral palsy.
Is It Any Good?
SWAY is a great fit for sophisticated teens. Though it's filled with all sorts of crazy storylines that may initially draw in readers -- Jesse sells drugs at parties and clubs and can use his "sway" to get a cool DJ to come to a school fundraiser -- the protagonist's evolution is carefully constructed, and it's what ultimately makes this such a satisfying book.
Even though Jess often makes poor choices, he's a tragic character and readers will empathize with his sad past and depressing present living with an alcoholic and mostly absent father. Jesse's initial descriptions of Bridget are a bit cheesy ("she shone gold, warmth and light radiating from her like she was an angel backlit by the heavens"), but the chemistry between them is convincing, as is his journey to being someone willing and able to once again connect with people he cares about.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Jesse. In the end, is he a good guy? Do you like him?
Jesse lies, sells drugs, and even frames a kid, getting him expelled. Can you think of other heroes from books or movies that are as morally complicated?
How does Jesse change from the beginning to the end? Are there other characters who change, too?
Book Details
- Author: Kat Spears
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Friendship , High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
- Publication date: September 16, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 18
- Number of pages: 320
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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