Sudden Impact

Kristin Butcher writes novels for young adults. Her most recent works
are The Trouble with Liberty, Zee’s Way, and Chat Room.

Orca Currents is a series for preteen and adolescent reluctant readers.
Sudden Impact is actually a republication of an earlier work put out in
the 1990s by Maxwell Macmillan.

Fourteen-year-old Tina and Kurt have been hanging out together for
several months. Kurt rescued Tina during one of her parents’ famous
arguments, and the two have been friends ever since. Tina, an avid
runner, even helped Kurt train so that he could make the soccer team.
Once on, however, he seemed more interested in fitting in with the other
players than in chumming with Tina. Especially important is the odd
relationship he has with Jason Evans, a boy two years older, who
harasses Kurt everywhere but on the soccer field. Jason even belittles
Kurt when he gets injured during a game. Only Tina seems to recognize
how serious the injury is. Her intuition is correct. Kurt needs a liver
transplant, but his rare B-negative blood means that finding a donor is
all but impossible. While Kurt fights for his life, Tina fights to save
their friendship.

As the narrator, Tina tells Kurt’s story from her perspective.
Readers experience her confusion and resentment at being ill-treated by
Kurt’s parents, her mixed feelings toward Jason, and her desperation
to save Kurt. From midway through the novel, readers know how the story
will play out and the ending is predictable. Nevertheless, Sudden Impact
is an enjoyable read. Recommended.