A review by evermore84
Reality Check by Peter Abrahams

3.0

Cody is the quarterback of the football team, and he is dating the smartest and most attractive girl in the school, Clea. Football scouts are keeping an eye on him, and although his grades are quite low, he looks forward to one day playing college football. Things aren't great for long, though - Clea's father decides to ship her off to boarding school in Vermont. Cody injures his knee and can no longer play football. His grades are slipping, and Cody decides to just drop out of school and work. One day Cody notices a newspaper article about a missing girl. Clea is missing from her boarding school! Cody embarks on quest to find Clea and is determined to stop at nothing until he finds her.

I don’t read a lot of YA mysteries, so I wasn’t sure if I would like this book or not. It turned out to be a fast-paced and engaging read. I liked how the author used letters and poems to give Cody clues as to what happened to Clea. I think it went a little too quickly at the end, though, and it felt a little rushed to me.

Cody was a likable character, and I couldn't help rooting for him. He learned some lessons about trust and love along his journey to find Clea, and I was left wondering what would happen to him after the story was over.

Overall it was an entertaining read, and I can see reluctant readers enjoying it.