Review: Call it What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer

When his dad is caught embezzling funds from half the town, Rob goes from popular lacrosse player to social pariah. Even worse, his father’s failed suicide attempt leaves Rob and his mother responsible for his care.

Everyone thinks of Maegan as a typical overachiever, but she has a secret of her own after the pressure got to her last year. And when her sister comes home from college pregnant, keeping it from her parents might be more than she can handle.

When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a calculus project, they’re both reluctant to let anyone through the walls they’ve built. But when Maegan learns of Rob’s plan to fix the damage caused by his father, it could ruin more than their fragile new friendship...

This captivating, heartfelt novel asks the question: Is it okay to do something wrong for the right reasons?

My Thoughts:  

Brigid Kemmerer has been one of my favorite authors for many years.  Starting with her Elemental series she has yet to disappoint.  This book was no exception.  Her characters are always so well written and complex.  Rob and Meagan were just as pragmatic.  Both Rob and Meagan were shouldering the burden of not only their own secrets, but those of their loved ones too,  While Meagan was judged by a single bad choice, Rob was judged by a choice someone close to him made and never given the benefit of the doubt.  The best part about this book was that as the story progressed both characters still made good and bad choices; showing that all choices and their consequences can shape us and help us evolve.    The book illustrates that not everything is always "black & white" and what may be wrong in one person's eyes, may not be in another's.  As with all of Kemmerer's books, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great, contemporary YA read.  
Recommended for 15 & up
Mild to adult situations