Guilt Trip

Themes: Hi-Lo, High school, neighborhoods, family, loyalty, friendship, urban teen fiction, vandalism, charity, prejudice, mystery, loyalty, neediness, family dynamics. More than entertainment, these books can be a powerful coping tool when a struggling reader connects with the text. Paperback books look and feel like a trade edition and are complete in just under 200 pages. Ernesto goes to look at used cars. He wants to give up his Volvo because it isn’t cool. He buys another car and donates his old one to Yvette’s needy family. During the car search, Ernesto and his friends meet a veteran who is trying to get his money back for the used junker he purchased. Paul Morales, Ernesto’s tough friend, helps. Unfortunately, suspicion falls on the group when the used car lot’s offices are burned to the ground. Money and computer equipment has gone missing. The police question everyone about the theft and destruction. Then, Jorge Aguilar, a track team teammate is arrested. The evidence is hard to deny. Ernesto and his pals are unconvinced that Jorge has it in him. When they meet Aguilar’s older sister, Dawn, there are red flags everywhere. She has a leech of a boyfriend, who just so happened to buy a hunk of junk from the same lot. Does Dawn know that her brother was set up and is staying quiet? Ernesto and Paul lay a guilt trip on her.