
Reach for this book when your teenager feels stifled by the weight of expectations and is looking for a fast-paced, cinematic escape. It is the perfect choice for a teen who feels their life is too predictable or managed by parental demands and wants a story about breaking the rules and finding unexpected competence. This dark comedy adventure follows Perry, a high school senior who discovers his quiet exchange student date is actually an elite assassin on a mission. As they navigate a wild night in Manhattan, the story explores themes of self-identity, the courage to step outside one's comfort zone, and the realization that people are rarely who they seem. While the action is high-octane and includes violence, it serves as a metaphor for the chaotic transition into adulthood. It is a thrilling, humorous read for older teens who enjoy dry wit and high stakes.
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Sign in to write a reviewOccasional strong language consistent with a gritty teen thriller.
High-speed car chases and life-threatening situations occur in almost every chapter.
The protagonist must grapple with helping a killer and breaking numerous laws.
A complex, non-traditional bond develops between the leads during the night.
The book deals with high-stakes violence and death in a direct, stylized manner reminiscent of action films. The approach is secular and realistic within its heightened genre. The resolution is bittersweet and ambiguous, focusing on personal growth rather than a neatly tied-up happy ending.
A 16-year-old boy who feels like a 'bystander' in his own life, perhaps feeling pressured by college applications and parental oversight, who needs a fantasy of radical agency and rebellion.
Parents should be aware of the high body count and dark humor. Preview the scenes involving Gobi's 'work' at the various clubs to ensure the level of stylized violence is appropriate for the teen. A parent might see their child withdrawing from family activities or expressing intense resentment toward 'the plan' laid out for their future.
Younger teens will focus on the cool cars and spy gadgets; older teens will resonate with Perry's internal struggle against his parents' rigid expectations for his future.
Unlike many YA thrillers that take themselves too seriously, this book blends absurdist humor with genuine coming-of-age pathos, making it feel like a John Hughes movie directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Perry is a suburban overachiever whose parents force him to take Gobi, a Lithuanian exchange student, to prom. The night takes a sharp turn when Gobi reveals she is a professional hitwoman with five targets to eliminate before dawn. Perry becomes her reluctant driver, navigating his father's Jaguar through a series of heists and car chases across New York City.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.