Review by Lindsay, age 16

Many kids hate their teachers...but would they ever go so far as to actually kill one? This is exactly what happens in this story, as five high school students decide to get even with their torturous English teacher.

It's sure to make you think twice about even your most disliked teachers. Are they really as bad as you think?

A prank gone too far quickly turns into a game of running from the police and their own guilty consciences. Driven by the strength of one dominating and disturbed personality, all second thoughts are swept away and their actions go way beyond their wildest dreams. Desperate to cover their crime, they dig themselves into a deeper hole from which only the truth can free them. As the situation grows more sticky, the relationships between the teens go through changes and they each realize that it's each person for him or herself.

I found this to be a riveting story but with a sad undertone. The five teens only knew one side of their teacher who seemed uptight and mean when he wouldn't let them get away with doing less than their best in his class. They didn't know the caring, loving side of their teacher as a devoted husband and excited father-to-be. They didn't see the dedication of a teacher who believed that they were capable of doing really good work if pushed in the right direction.

This book will satisfy readers who like a good drama, a few tears, and a lot of action. It will keep you hooked to find out what happens next. And it's sure to make you think twice about even your most disliked teachers. Are they really as bad as you think?

Published by Bantam Doubleday Dell
223 p.