Racing. Winning. That's all that matters
in this exciting teen story about driving competitively.
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
