Accomplice

Accomplice
By Eireann Corrigan
Scholastic Press, 2010. 296 pgs. Young Adult

After attending a college prep seminar where an advisor informs them that good grades, extracurricular activities, and even community service aren't enough to distinguish themselves from the hoards of other students trying to get into college, Finn and her best friend Chloe hatch a crazy plan: they pretend that Chloe has been abducted and plan that Finn will be the one to find her, vaulting them both into celebrity status that will essentially guarantee them entrance to any college. So Chloe hides out in Finn's absent grandmother's basement while Finn pretends to look for her, gives press interviews, and tries not to panic. However, their plan quickly goes awry and Finn realizes she may be in over her head.

I found this book to be rather unsettling-- and not just because of the girls' rather disturbing way of thinking. While the plot of the book was enough to keep me reading since I had to see how things turned out, I also never fully believed that two intelligent girls would pull a stunt like this, and while there are several possible reasons why Finn might get involved (including her admiration of, and possibly even attraction to, her best friend) in it, none of them was fully developed enough for me to really buy it. It's definitely thought-provoking and there are many readers who will be drawn in by the plot, but at the same time, I think there are a lot of readers who will be put off by it as well.

AE