In her first book for teens, adult author Bennett (the Arcadia Bell series) presents a story about two unusual, talented artists: Bex (short for Beatrix) Adams, who dreams of becoming a medical illustrator, and Jack Vincent, who has a double life as a San Francisco street artist, traversing the city by night to spray paint words like "Fly" and "Trust" in gold. Their chance meeting—and Bex's quick discovery of Jack's secret—sets off a sweet romance between these two struggling teenagers. Bex lost her father to divorce, and her family can barely make ends meet, while Jack has family problems of his own. Jack's fascination with Buddhism intrigues Bex, and he sees in Bex some of the peace he so desperately seeks. As they fall in love and make their first forays into sexual intimacy, Bennett doesn't let their story fall prey to melodrama, even when their relationship is challenged. Readers interested in art and Buddhism will find this novel a satisfying read. Ages 12–up. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency. (Nov.)

This book is a sweet love story between two high school students, Jack and Beatrix. Beatrix is a hardworking teen who lives with her divorced mother and gay brother; she throws herself into her art, drawing cadavers. She meets Jack as he completes his illegal, street graffiti art. He cannot risk being caught since he would ruin his father's political career. Jack's schizophrenic sister is in a mental ward. Jack has become a graffiti artist in order to write the words his sister is thinking. Beatrix superimposes Jillian's face on an illustrated cadaver's body; the work is displayed at an art gallery where Jack's parents visit. Secrets are revealed, and through the revelations both families become more stable and intact. Students will enjoy these rebellious teens, coupled with a budding love story.

Gr 9 Up—Beatrix is not a typical teen artist. Her specialty is anatomical drawing. She wants nothing more than the chance to get into the Willed Body facility at a San Francisco medical school to draw the cadavers, sure that her precise work will win her a scholarship in a museum-sponsored drawing competition. Being a medical illustrator is an ambition she works toward by clerking in a local organic market to save for college and help her divorced RN mom keep their household afloat. Stuck waiting for the late bus one day, Beatrix meets a mysterious and gorgeous boy. They connect at once, staring into each other's eyes while flirting on the bus, but when a can of gold spray paint rolls out of Jack's bag, she knows why he's nervous and who he is: a notorious street artist who leaves single words of graffiti around the city. It should turn her off that he appears to be trouble, but Jack turns all of Bex's buttons to ON, and he is just as smitten, tracking her down and wooing her, even as she comes to understand that the words he's painting have as much to do with family and secrets as they do with art. Characters are well wrought, and dialogue feels realistic as the two navigate their lives and a fledgling relationship with humor and frank talk about sex, parents, and art. VERDICT An appealingly realistic romance that will curl toes and inspire sighs.—Suzanne Gordon, Lanier High School, Sugar Hill, GA