Diet Soda Club
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
When their mom leaves, Reed must care for his sister who has a life-threatening condition—even if that means breaking the law. A tender and sparkling story about family, trust, and the lengths we will go to for the ones we love. Have you ever made all the wrong choices for all the right reasons? Reed Beckett’s little sister, Beatrice, has never been awakened by the smell of breakfast or a school-day alarm clock. Instead, she wakes to hospital beeps and poking doctors. Seventeen-year-old Reed has been there for Bea all along, especially since their dad died. But when their burned-out mom goes on an extended vacation with her new boyfriend, the siblings are left with only an empty pantry and each other. With no job prospects on the horizon, Reed begins making and selling fake IDs so he and Bea can survive. But the problems keep piling up, from an angry landlord demanding rent to looming medical bills. As Reed expands his business, taking increasingly bigger risks, the potential consequences for Reed’s future, Bea’s health, and Reed’s budding friendship with his classmate Helena become graver. But what choice does he have? The joy and complexity of both caregiving and sibling relationships are at the heart of this authentic and moving novel.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
High schooler Reed spends most of his time in and out of the hospital taking care of his 10-year-old sister Beatrice, who has spinal muscular atrophy. Ever since the siblings' father's recent death in an accident, their mother—who "used to do all the mom things like bake sales, PTA, and help with my homework"—has struggled to manage the household. When her new boyfriend invites her on a weekend getaway, she leaves Reed to care for Beatrice, who's recovering from pneumonia. After days pass and she doesn't return, Reed is forced to get creative to make money. He befriends yearbook president Helena to gain access to the club's ID printer, which he uses to make fake IDs for students in exchange for cash. When Beatrice uncovers his plot, he promises he'll stop making them. But as the hospital bills continue to pile up and there's still no word from Mom, Reed is running out of options. Though the mother's characterization trends toward cartoon villainy, this endearing drama by Hayden (The First Thing About You) shines in its heartfelt depiction of the siblings' relationship and its sensitive portrayal of Beatrice's medical experiences. Characters read as white. Ages 14–up.
