DROP

Three Las Vegas teens gamble on their reputations and relationships in a labored caper. Beautiful, popular Kat is filled with angst over whether to testify at her abusive mother’s upcoming parole hearing. Sanjay steals money from his father’s store to make good on his poker debts. Jerrica is a math genius who sometimes has synesthetic experiences related to numbers. When Sanjay gets into more financial trouble than he can handle, he enlists Jerrica and her seemingly psychic abilities to help him win back the money he owes. When their plan doesn’t work, Sanjay asks his girlfriend Kat to help. Kat’s ex-boyfriend Mike has just asked her to protect a box of money, but she knows that Mike’s illegal dealings could have harmful consequences if she helps Sanjay. Despite the high stakes, this book lacks excitement, instead resorting to the copious use of adjectives in an attempt to create drama and surrealism. The teens and their ever-so-wise yet clueless parents are flat and unsympathetic, and even when the characters are in physical danger there is little doubt that everything will wrap up in the end. This might be popular in casino towns, but don’t bet on it. (Fiction. YA)