Love and Vandalism

by Laurie Boyle Crompton

Overview

He calls it fate. She calls it blackmail.

Rory has a secret: she's the vandal who paints graffiti lions all over her small town. If her policeman dad knew, he'd probably disown her. So when Hayes, a former screw-up on the path to recovery, catches her in the act, Rory's sure she's busted. Instead, he makes her a deal. If Rory shows him around town, he won't turn her in. It might be coercion, but at least the boy is hot.

As they spend more time together, Rory worries she made the wrong choice. Hayes has a way of making her want things she shouldn't want and feel emotions she's tried to bury. Rory's going to have to distance herself from Hayes or confront a secret she can't bring herself to face...

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492636052
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	05/02/2017
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

When she was 17, LAURIE BOYLE CROMPTON painted her first car hot pink using 40 cans of spray paint. This turned her into an overnight icon in Butler, PA. She now lives near NYC in Queens, but maintains a secret identity in New Paltz, NY where she and her family can often be found tromping through the forest. Visit www.lboylecrompton.com

Editorial Reviews

"...unique characters and affectionate message...this novel will appeal to fans of indie realistic fiction." — VOYA

"Rory is a strong character with fierce convictions… The nuanced character development stands out in this sensitive exploration of the healing power of art. This book will resonate with artists and art lovers alike." — School Library Journal

"Gritty and edgy, this novel smartly tackles suicide, teen alcoholism, and creative expression....By combining a narrator who embraces pain and resentment with story twists and misunderstandings, Crompton creates a fascinating novel that will fully absorb readers. " — Booklist

From the Publisher

03/01/2017
Gr 9 Up—Since her mother died, Rory doesn't want to be at home with her father. While her dad spends time with his girlfriend, whom Rory just doesn't accept, Rory paints graffiti lions around her hometown. The lions express her rage and frustration and also help illustrate that "interesting art comes from dark places." If Rory were to get caught, she's sure that her father, a cop, just wouldn't understand. Eventually, she meets a young man, Hayes, who has his own share of demons, and the two seem to hit it off, even though Rory resists his attention at first. The author stays true to the theme that art is therapy and a vehicle for human connection. Rory is a strong character with fierce convictions. Drug use and sexual innuendos make this a good choice for older young adults. The nuanced character development stands out in this sensitive exploration of the healing power of art. VERDICT This book will resonate with artists and art lovers alike. Recommended for both high school and public library collections.—Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI

School Library Journal

2017-02-14
Rory's refusal to process her mother's suicide is challenged by Hayes, who is facing his own demons through Alcoholics Anonymous.Since her mother's suicide, dreadlocked Rory has retreated into casual hookups and secretly painting graffiti lions around New Paltz. (Aside from her dreadlocks, Rory seems to be white by default in her majority-white upstate New York town.) When Hayes, a white newcomer, discovers Rory's secret, he blackmails her into socializing with him. Hayes also encourages Rory to rebuild her relationship with her police-sergeant father. Immune to Hayes' suggestions and confident in her ability to control every situation, Rory instead attempts to transition Hayes into another casual hookup and painting accomplice. He frustrates her plans, however, by revealing his reluctance to engage in either due to his ongoing involvement in an AA program for his substance-use disorder. Rather than supporting him, self-absorbed Rory often views Hayes' commitment to his recovery as inconvenient. Her callousness may be fueled by grief, but it can still be uncomfortable to watch her potentially jeopardize Hayes' sobriety and reject his attempts to build real relationships. Subsequently their interactions often have more undercurrents of anger than playful, quirky opposites-attract banter, and the story's resolution skims over the seriousness of the emotional challenges that both will continue to face. A sexual assault storyline is also underdeveloped. Introduces, but doesn't always deeply examine, many serious topics. (Fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews