Archie Barrington, fifteen, is the third generation of his family to drive karts competitively. He's good, and this is the year he and his dad have decided he'll have a shot at the Challenge series of six races. If he comes out the winner overall then he wins the chance to race in Europe.
However, he's not the only good driver after the prize. Craig is his main rival, and Craig's father is wealthy and prepared to spend whatever it takes to help his son win the Challenge.
Archie doesn't let Craig worry him, but Silver Adams is another matter. She's come back into karting after a two-year break and her ambition seems to be to drive her kart like a weapon of destruction to others on the track, Archie in particular.
His life isn't the smoothest at home either, thanks to Dad's new girlfriend Erica who, in Archie's opinion, is ridiculously overprotective of her seven-year-old son Felix. Karting is the last thing in the world she intends for him to do. However, shy, reserved Felix is fascinated by the whole world of karts.
Archie and Craig dice all year – first Archie wins at a Challenge meeting, but next time Craig does. Archie must win the sixth and last meeting if he's to win the series. All is going well until disaster strikes in the pre-final, when he's pushed off the track and breaks an axle. That's it. Craig will go to Europe but he won't. Then Silver comes to the rescue unexpectedly and Archie is able to drive the race of his life.
I have to confess that I didn’t think the subject matter of this book,
kart racing, would appeal to me. However
it is so much more than a story about a series of kart races. The main competitors are an interesting mix
of personalities, each with their own motivation to win. Along with the issues
in Archie’s family life this story is a great combination of character conflict
and plot development.
Reviewed by Carolyn
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