Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick

Starred review from August 15, 2011
“I’m eighteen years old. In a month I’m going to graduate, I’m waitlisted at Columbia... and this—whatever this is—isn’t part of the plan.” That’s Perry Stormaire as his prom night goes from disaster, when he’s forced to escort dowdy Lithuanian exchange student Gobija Zaksauskas, to something more like Kill Bill after Gobi turns out to be a stunningly effective (and also stunning) assassin. What follows is a whirlwind night of explosions, shootings, stabbings, and car chases as they traverse Manhattan and Brooklyn with Gobi picking off targets over Perry’s protests. As if this situation wasn’t stressful enough, adult author Schreiber opens each chapter of his YA debut with a college admissions essay question (“You’ve just written a 300-page autobiography. Send us page 217”), which should provide a few more palpitations. It’s very well targeted at male teens, with a breakneck pace, quick repartee, hot cars and women, a well-rendered New York City backdrop, abundant action, and some food for thought about what it means to be a man. Plain and simple, it’s a blast. A couple of them, actually. Ages 12–up.

February 1, 2012

Gr 10 Up-Perry Stormaire is more than happy to skip senior prom for a New York City gig with his band, but his parents insist that he attend the event with Gobi, their frumpy Lithuanian exchange student, as his date. The pair makes a quick appearance at the dance before Perry gives in to the girl's curious request to go downtown to Jay-Z's 40/40 Club. There, Gobi transforms into a femme fatale, much to Perry's confusion and delight. It turns out that Gobi is actually a 24-year-old, highly skilled assassin on a mission to avenge her sister's murder-and she convinces Perry to be her chauffeur and accomplice. The amusing all-night caper turns deadly serious as Gobi takes out one mark after another. The evening ends with a literal bang after the duo makes a particularly far-fetched leap to safety from the 47th floor of an office building. Perry is an endearingly earnest protagonist, and Gobi is pure male fantasy-an impossibly tough assassin with a heart of gold, who actually seems to fall for Perry before the night is out. Steven Boyer narrates Joe Schreiber's exciting story (Houghton, 2011) and does an excellent job of voicing Gobi's Lithuanian accent, distinguishing between supporting characters, and teasing out the novel's sly humor. What it lacks in subtlety, it makes up for in sheer adrenaline. Violence, animal cruelty, and references to torture and human trafficking make this listen suitable for older teens.-Amy Pickett, Ridley High School, Folsom, PA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.