Bad Call by Stephen Wallenfels (review)

Ceo is a handsome model with wealthy, well-connected parents; he"s also kind of a brat. Colin is a gifted tennis player whose scholarship at the posh boarding school where they"re seniors depends on his ability to remain one of the top two players. Nonetheless, Colin sacrifices his spot for the sake of Ceo, and then goes along with Ceo"s plan for an illicit camping trip to Yosemite with Grahame, the school"s top tennis player, and a girl, Ellie. The group"s trip goes horribly wrong, as deteriorating weather conditions and seething resentments over Ceo"s blithe competitiveness and entitlement ultimately lead to a fatal outcome. Narration moves between Colin"s memories that offer context and present circumstances alternately focalized through Ellie and Colin. As Ceo opens up about his motives, readers begin to understand why Colin feels such loyalty to him; he"s still a jerk, but at least he"s a sympathetic one who cares a great deal for his friend despite his clumsy attempts to manipulate outcomes. Grahame, on the other hand, is decidedly less sympathetic as the danger intensifies, while Colin and Ellie begin and end as thoughtful, imperfect, yet balanced teens. The constellation of relationships is reminiscent of John Green"s early work, with similarly witty dialogue, angsty self-reflection, and well-wrought prose. Readers who like an even mix of character-driven and action-suspense storytelling are the audience for this.