Wheels

Lori McLeod is a librarian with the Toronto Public Library.

This book is part of a series based on the popular television shows,
“Degrassi Junior High” and “Degrassi High.”

The title character, Derek “Wheels” Wheeler, must deal with his
parents’ death in an automobile accident. He is burdened with guilt.
On the evening of the accident, he was supposed to go to the movies with
his parents; instead, he went to his best friend Joey’s house. Wheels
believes the accident would not have occurred if he had been with his
parents. To alleviate his own guilt, Wheels places some of the blame on
Joey, who had insisted that Wheels come over so their rock band could
complete a demo tape.

Wheels’s life becomes unhinged. His friendship with Joey
disintegrates. He constantly argues with is grandmother, now his legal
guardian. He loses interest in his music and his school work. He skips
classes, spending his time in video arcades. There he meets two street
kids, Barry and Tami—an association that leads to Wheels’s getting
caught shoplifting. Eventually, Wheels reconciles his differences with
his grandmother and with Joey. He realizes that people do care about
him, and he is in a position to deal with his grief.

The author treats death and grief with great sensitivity. This novel
has a ready readership among fans of the television series, but even
those not hooked on the series will enjoy this thoughtful, well-written
book.