Teen Stuff: Project Sweet Life by Brent Hartinger

Wed, 05/26/2010 - 3:55pm by Caser

Make the money, fake the job. That's the plan for fifteen year old Dave and his two best friends, whose fathers all demand that they get summer jobs for the first time in their lives in the novel, Project Sweet Life, by Brent Hartinger. But this cohort of friends has a better idea: trick their families into believing they'll be lifeguards and fast food workers while scheming up means of legally pocketing the money they said they'd earn in their day jobs.

The hijinks begin with garage sales and jelly bean counting contests, but eventually they escalate into averting attempted robberies, discovering lost underground tunnels, and diving for sunken treasure. This fast paced story is nominated for the 2010 Thumbs Up! Book Award, and would be great for those looking to get a head start on books for the AADL's upcoming Summer Reading Game.