cover image Buck

Buck

Tamela Larimer. Avon Books, $2.5 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-380-75172-3

The winner of the Avon Flare Young Adult Competition gives readers a subtler and more realistic look at manipulation and the meaning of loyalty than A Risky Game (reviewed above). Buck is a runaway with a past that includes a stint as a male prostitute. Rich catches Buck trying to steal his tape deck, is drawn to him and takes him home. Rich's parents gain custody of Buck, who is grateful for his good fortune. But Rich finds that his new ""brother'' is capable of manipulating people, teachers and the social hierarchy at school. He even puts the moves on Rich's girlfriend, acting so innocent about it that Rich seems overly suspicious. To get back at him, Rich reveals Buck's past in such a way that the whole school knows. Buck, always a runner, vanishes. Larimer's first novel is impressively focused and well written, providing a balanced view of how one person can bring out the bestand the worstin the people around him. (12-up)