From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—Jesse Alderman, aka Sway, can get you what you want, no matter what. Drugs, popularity, money, anything, but it comes at a cost. After his mom chased some prescription drugs with vodka and ended up dead on the bathroom floor, Jesse doesn't care about much, as long as he gets paid and people live up to their end of the bargain. But that all ends when school bully Ken Foster asks him to convince Bridget Smalley, an all-around wonderful person, to go out with Ken on a date. Jesse thinks this is just another business transaction until he meets Bridget and finds himself falling in love with her. Now, he's opening up to all kinds of people, including Bridget's younger brother, Pete, who feels alone and damaged because of his cerebral palsy, and Mr. Dunkelman, a man who lives at the nursing home where her grandmother lives. However, the more he feels for Bridget, the more he attempts to pull away from her and anyone who might care about him. And, now that the protagonist has made Ken appear like a nice guy in Bridget's eyes, she starts to pull away from Jesse, as well. From the first page, readers won't ever want to leave Jesse behind. At first glance, this novel seems like a typical Cyrano de Bergerac-type story, but it is much deeper than that, touching on topics such as parent abandonment, disabilities, bullying, and love. The main character's transformation and personality are well developed and believable, and readers will root for him along the way, even though he makes it difficult. References to drugs, alcohol, and suicide make it better suited for older teens. A engaging story that will stay with readers long past the final page.—Traci Glass, Eugene Public Library, OR

Review

“Sharp dialogue, edgy humor, and an unlikely hero make this page-turner a winner.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A compelling debut told with swagger and real depth.” ―Kirkus (starred review)

“Spears' debut novel sets an update on Cyrano de Bergerac in a contemporary high school, with noir undertones… Raw, honest…A gritty take on the male high school experience.” ―Booklist

“Kat Spears debut novel is, quite simply, a delight. It has all the ingredients for an engaging and witty read, laced with honesty and insight that's refreshingly real…the story is gritty and real, unafraid to cross over into the darker sides of teenage life, and unapologetic in its witty and honest portrayal. If anything, Kat Spears may just be the one with some very valuable sway; get ready to be sold.” ―Children's Book Review

“A page turner about high school's victims and villains -- and about layers of callousness that spring from true grief. ” ―Meg Medina, Pura Belpre award-winning author of Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass

“[The] characters are fantastic and real, but that plot? The licks and riffs that led to Jesse's transformation totally blew me away, every damn page.” ―Gigi Amateau, author of Come August, Come Freedom: The Bellows, The Gallows, and The Black General Gabriel

About the Author

Kat Spears has worked as a bartender, museum director, housekeeper, park ranger, business manager, and painter (not the artistic kind). She holds an M.A. in anthropology, which has helped to advance her bartending career. She lives in Richmond, Virginia with her three freeloading kids. Sway is her debut novel.