Full Tilt

Shusterman, N. (2003). Full tilt. New York: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers.

Blake and Quinn are as opposite as two brothers could be. Blake is the reserved hardworking sixteen-year-old about to leave for college, and Quinn is the rule breaker looking for the next thrill. While at a theme park, Blake meets Cassandra. She gives him an exclusive invitation to a theme park of his dreams. Quinn goes in his brother’s place, and Blake finds himself trapped in his worst nightmare in order to save his brother. When entering the theme park, Blake discovers he must ride seven rides before dawn in order to exit, but the rides are not just your everyday rollercoasters. The rides morph into the rider’s fears and insecurities. No one has ever exited Cassandra’s park, and she and the park thrive on the captured rider’s souls. Blake feels horrible guilt about being the only survivor in a school bus accident, and Cassandra preys on his weakness. No one has been as strong and defiant where Cassandra is concerned, so he becomes the ultimate game to her. Much to her dismay, Blake makes it through all seven rides and saves his brother. Bake realizes Cassandra was present during the bus accident all those years ago and he is not the one to blame for the tragedy. Shusterman takes the reader on a wild roller coaster ride of self-discovery, conquering fears and forgiveness. This psychological thriller brings to life a scary fantasy world, yet challenges the reader to analyze the underlying trials and tribulations of life.