Guilt Trip

Series Name: Urban Underground-Cesar Chavez High Series

Theme: Hi-Lo, High school, neighborhoods, family, loyalty, friendship, urban teen fiction, vandalism, charity, prejudice, mystery, loyalty, neediness, family dynamics

Ernesto goes to look at used cars. He wants to give up his Volvo because it isn't cool. He buys another car and donates his old one to Yvette's needy family. During the car search, Ernesto and his friends meet a veteran who is trying to get his money back for the used junker he purchased. Paul Morales, Ernesto's tough friend, helps.

Unfortunately, suspicion falls on the group when the used car lot's offices are burned to the ground. Money and computer equipment has gone missing. The police question everyone about the theft and destruction. Then, Jorge Aguilar, a track team teammate is arrested. The evidence is hard to deny.

Ernesto and his pals are unconvinced that Jorge has it in him. When they meet Aguilar's older sister, Dawn, there are red flags everywhere. She has a leech of a boyfriend, who just so happened to buy a hunk of junk from the same lot. Does Dawn know that her brother was set up and is staying quiet? Ernesto and Paul lay a guilt trip on her.

ISBN-13: 9781622507672

Format: Paperback

Grade Level: Teen and YA

Approximate Grade-Level Equivalent for Series: 3.5

Lexile Level: HL710L

Key Words/ Themes: High School, Neighborhoods, Family, Loyalty, Friendship, Urban Teen Fiction, Vandalism, Charity, Prejudice, Mystery, Neediness, Fiction, Teen, Young Adult, Chapter Book, Hi-Lo, Hi-Lo Books, Hi-Lo Solutions, High-Low Books, Hi-Low Books, ELL, EL, ESL, Struggling Learner, Struggling Reader, Special Education, SPED, Newcomers, Reading, Learning, Education, Educational, Educational Books