Busted: Confessions of an Accidental Player by Antony John

A guest review from Teen Room Staff Brandon!

We all know the popular kids in school. The ones with the perfect hair, ridiculously expensive cars, gorgeous boyfriends and girlfriends. Well, Kevin Mopsely is not one of those privileged few. Kevin is a flute-playing, antisocial nerd; the epitome of uncool. He has somehow made it to his senior year without attracting the attention of…well…anybody. Then the most popular kid in school, Brandon Trent appoints Kevin the keeper of the Book of Busts, a compilation of all the senior girls’ bust, waist, and hip measurements, he feels a bit overwhelmed. Kevin accepts Brandon’s challenge, though, and immediately his social status soars, much to the dismay of his old, band-geek friends.

Of course, his task would be simple, if his mom wasn’t a feminist college professor who would immediately condemn any interaction with The Book on Kevin’s part. Also, Kevin’s best friend and love interest, Abby, tells him flat out that she will basically hate him forever if he’s involved with the jocks and their ridiculous book.

How can poor Kevin keep his real friends from finding out about his project for the jocks, and at the same time, keep his jock friends from finding out about his flute-playing, love of music personality, all the while keeping the whole thing under wraps from his mom? Busted tells an interesting tale of Kevin’s journey through senior year, loving and losing Abby, getting her back, and his ongoing battle with the jocks and the biggest decision: does he want to be popular or not?

--Brandon

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