Who Framed Lorenzo Garcia?

Booted out of the house by his macho father, gay teen Ramon Torres has bounced from foster homes to the streets and back again, finally finding safe haven with a sympathetic gay cop who wants to adopt him. But roadblocks spring up-namely a stereotypically narrow-minded caseworker and the cop getting framed for dealing drugs. Banished to a more ""suitable"" home, Ramon enlists the help of other teens from his community's Gay and Lesbian Center (the ""Pride Pack"" of the title) to clear his would-be father's name. The action proceeds at a lively clip, but the writing is pedestrian and many of the characters clicheed. The shadow of political correctness looms as well-the teens, for example, are perfectly balanced multiculturally. This title is the first of a series featuring gay and lesbian teens; a second title, The Case of the Missing Mother, is scheduled for simultaneous release. Ages 11-up. (Sept.)