Kevin Russell feels like the invisible Russell. His parents seem too busy to notice him; his older siblings all have boyfriends or girlfriends and no time for him. Melena, the one sister who has been closer to him than anyone, is getting married and moving away. Then one of the popular beautiful girls at school begins to pay attention to him, and he is drawn into her circle. The problem is dating Janessa could cost him his reputation and dreams. Can he stand up for his beliefs in the face of peer pressure and still keep Janessa’s interest or must he sacrifice himself to have her attention? Will Kevin make the right decision?

In the fourth book of the Russell Family series, Kevin the youngest faces the most intense battle, one of doing what is right or going along with the crowd even at the cost of your dreams and self-respect. Kevin is very vulnerable because he feels like his family doesn’t notice him, and so the attention from a popular, very pretty girl, is very welcome. He knows that Janessa is doing things he shouldn’t do but even when he is warned by Lisa, Janessa’s sister and his friend, he doesn’t pay attention. When he is faced with the fact that doing what Janessa wants him to do almost cost him his life and then she places the blame on him costing him his position on the soccer team he loves, he realizes the has made a very bad trade. Kevin also recognizes that there are people who care about him and he needs their support now, but is it too late? Can his family and friends trust and believe in him again?

Again Ms. Mendoza has used her talent to tell a fantastic story of redemption and forgiveness by placing her teen characters in very real situations many of today’s youth will face. Although each of her four Russell Family books have had the kids learn to survive difficult life lessons and triumph because of their underlying belief system and a family that cares, I think this one was the more difficult one for me to read. Kevin so easily falls into the trap of peer pressure even when he has been given the tools and information to know better. I found this scenario the most frightening because it is one many of our kids will see and face in their teen years, and I hoped that if the kids were prepared they would not fall so easily. In this book, it didn’t matter what information Kevin had, he still choose peer pressure over what he knew was right.

Since Ms. Mendoza ties up all the lose ends in this story, I assume it is the end of the series. I will miss reading about the Russell family, they feel like neighbors. I am very glad I read this series, and if you are a teenager or know teenagers then this is a series you should read and pass along!

Reviewed by: Stephanie B.