Slammed

Layken Cohen's life falls apart when her father dies unexpectedly. Money is tight, so her mother moves the family from Texas to Ypsilanti, Michigan, where everything is cold and unfamiliar. On moving day, her nine-year-old brother, Kel, immediately befriends Caulder, the boy next door, and Layken meets Caulder's older brother, Will Cooper, who is twenty-one and has been looking after Caulder since their own parents died.

Will takes Layken to a local club where people perform slam poetry, and she is amazed by how honestly he speaks about his life on stage. They fall for each other fast, but on her first day at her new high school she discovers that Will is not who she thought: he is a student teacher, and she is in his class. Both know they must keep their distance, which is harder than either expected. At the same time Layken realizes her mother is hiding something serious, and the family must face another painful truth. Poems written for the story appear throughout, showing what the characters cannot say directly.

Heartfelt and quick to read, with tissues recommended. About 352 pages, followed by Point of Retreat.