Joyride

Product Description [Young Adult Fiction (Ages 12-17)] [Read by Kyla Garcia and Andrew Eiden] A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices in midnight pranking and are soon in over their heads -- with the law and with each other -- in this sparkling standalone from New York Times bestselling author Anna Banks. It's been several years since Carly Vega's parents were deported. Carly lives with her older brother, studies hard, and works the graveyard shift at a convenience store to earn enough to bring her parents back from Mexico. Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He used to date popular blondes and have fun pranking with his older sister Amber. But now all that has changed, and Arden needs a new accomplice -- especially one that his father, the town sheriff, will disapprove of. All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to not do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they've allowed their lives to be driven by the wishes of others. Just like real life, Carly and Arden's journey toward their true hearts -- and one another -- is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh. Review ''Good girl Carly and popular Arden combine forces in order to live more authentic lives in this angsty contemporary novel. Carly's parents have been deported to Mexico and she works nights to support her family. Arden uses his bad-boy reputation to pull off grand, sometimes disastrous pranks to salve the pain of his sister's death. Carly is not Arden's type, at first-and Carly knows she is too busy to bother with him... With a dash of romance, Banks's book tackles the issues of human smuggling, immigration, and a rogue police officer. It could be too much for any young adult novel, but buoyed by irresistible characters, sincere dialogue, and robust prose, this is one ride readers will all want to take. Fans of Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti will flock to the author's fan pool. Relevant, risky, and romantic, this work is a clear standout in today's contemporary YA niche.'' -- School Library Journal ''Banks respects her readers by penning an engaging narrative that deepens her central love story... As Carly and Arden open themselves to love and draw closer together, the book's message comes through loud and clear: personal growth can lead us toward unlikely destinies.'' -- Booklist ''Writing in the present tense and switching between first-person for Carly and third-person for Arden, Banks offers a book brimming with original humor and mostly complex characterization even as she tackles race and immigration issues. Both a heart-stopper and heart-tugger.'' -- Kirkus Reviews About the Author Anna Banks is the author of the New York Times bestselling Syrena Legacy ( OF POSEIDON, OF TRITON, OF NEPTUNE.) Her first novel, Of Poseidon, was a Macmillan Fierce Reads title. She lives in Crestview, on the Florida Panhandle, with her husband and their daughter.