NO RIGHT THING

A teen’s selfless act has unintended consequences.

Kindhearted 16-year-old Cate Sheridan works at a grocery store and often saves leftover food for Max, a homeless man she’s befriended. That is, until the day Cate and her classmate Noah Fox rescue him from an accident—and in the ensuing commotion it turns out that he’s Max Le Bould, a rich and famous British rock star who disappeared years ago after his tour bus crashed. The press hounds Cate and Noah for information about Max—and soon enough Cate’s mother, a famous reporter whom Cate hasn’t seen since she was 2, turns up in their small town. Cate gets overly involved in helping Max get back on his feet, causing tension, as Noah suspects he may have intentionally ridden his bike into traffic. Meanwhile, Cate’s been accepted to culinary school, but she can barely afford the deposit, let alone the tuition. Her father doesn’t want her to go, insisting she attend a traditional college, and her dad’s longtime partner, Parker, refuses to take a side. The family drama takes center stage but is marred by one-dimensional characters and a predictable plot. While Cate is sweetly altruistic, the story bypasses the opportunity to delve into the issues faced by those experiencing homelessness. Most characters are presumed white.

An enjoyable tale for less discerning readers.