Perfect Chemistry

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Just from having only read the first few chapters pages of the book, I have to say that first of all I am in awe at how much I actually like this book. The title is so fitting only because of how ironic the book is. We have two completely different people, Alex and Brittany, who come from two totally different worlds—they eventually begin to collide. What I am mostly intrigued about is the hidden message I think the author is trying to make here. Brittany comes from a very affluent family and can afford anything she wants. On the outside, she looks like she has it all—money, popularity, and friends. We know this is certainly not true. When I read the first few chapters about her life, I was very much so relieved when I learned first that she somewhat dislikes her mother—she certainly has a mental condition that needs to be checked, but also because we see that Brittany is living in a family that has their own set of issues. Brittany has a sister who is special needs and requires around the clock care—though this is untypical, I enjoy the fact that we are almost given such exclusive access into her world, but we also see just how much people don’t know. Even her best friend doesn’t know the entire truth about all that Brittany goes through. Alex, on the outside your typical bad ass who is in a gang but resents ever joining it. He’s the heartthrob, but everyone is afraid to do anything crazy around him in fear that he would somehow “off” them. In the first interaction with Brittany where she almost hits his bike, she is so afraid to approach him and apologize because of the reputation that he holds. Having this image on the outside protects Alex, but in the inside, I am also glad we are given a true understanding of him. Alex loves his little brothers so much, and in the first interaction with his family unit, we see that he is forced to be the “man” of the house because his father died. Alex’s mother works hard to support the boys and only wants them to get an education. Alex is torn because he knows that he is capable of doing so much more, yet feels limited. He threatens his brothers that if they ever join a gang he would do much more harm to them—yet he is in one himself. What I feel the author is trying to do here is show us that in two completely different worlds, problems exist. People no matter where you come from will face situations that they cannot control and will find ways to hide their true identity—this is what I like most so far about this book. I would definitely use it in my classroom if I had the opportunity—if even only for the first few chapters. So far, so good.