Review: Derailed by Jon Ripslinger

I have to say that I was really captured by this description of the book from the cover:

"Derailed is the story of what happens when you open your eyes and start to care enough to risk everything."

High school senior, Wendell "Stony" Stoneking, suddenly finds his whole world rocked by the prospect that there might be more to life than following in the well-tred path of his father and grandfather. He could go to college. He could have a football scholarship. Or... he could lose his place on the team because of his failing English grade. A challenge from his coach and a new and mysterious peer tutor put things in a new perspective for Stony. When his tutor turns out to be much more than meets the eye-- a single mom with a stalker ex-boyfriend-- Stony must decide if he cares enough to help her and risk a different kind of life.

Another author described this story as "edgy"... which I also liked. Though I guess I didn't really understand what kind of edgy that meant. Call me old-fashioned... but I really wish there was not so much sex and language in YA these days! (But that's a soap box for another day...)

Speaking myself as an unproven author, I felt like some of the dialog sounded canned. There were several conversations that happened purely to inform the reader what was going on, but where both characters involved already knew the information conveyed. I wanted to be more moved by Robyn's (the tutor) tale of her dark past. Some parts seemed a little predictable, but I liked the spin that the more unusual elements added to the story. I liked the voice of the narrator, Stony. The characters seemed genuine.

Honestly, I'd be interested in following this author. I think he's talented and tells a good story. Every writer can improve on his or her craft. Always.