Who You Wit'?: A del Rio Bay Clique Novel

Paula Chase's Who You Wit? bring the Del Rio Bay clique back in full force. Mina is so in love with Brian, she is considering giving him all of her. But her friends want to protect her and intervene. Will Mina give into her man, or will she sign on with her girls? On the other hand, Jacinta has already given her all to Raheem and she is potentially on her way to being a mother. However, she is not sure she is ready for what being a parent can mean and she is certainly not prepared for all the dramatic plans Raheem is making. In addition to the stress-filled situations with Mina, Jacinta the other members of the pact, Lizzie and Kelly are having drama issues of their own. These young ladies are faced with grown-up decisions and will need to stick together. But things are so crazy that they may come apart at the seams when they need each other most. Will the DRB clique survive? Once again, Ms. Chase has brought us an entertaining, yet informative look at what goes on with teenagers in today's drama-filled world. I recommend Who You Wit? to all teenaged readers and to those who are involved in their lives. This is a timely and fun novel. Angelia Vernon Menchan APOOO BookClub Disclaimer This book was received compliments of the author for review.

WHO YOU WIT? by Paula Chase is the fourth installment of the Del Rio Bay Clique series and again features the teenage angst of friends: Mina, Lizzie, Cinny and Kelly. This time around sex, and what to do about it, is the hot button topic. Feeling pressured by her boyfriend, Todd, Lizzie decides to embark on a virginity pact for one year, problem is she needs the crew to go along with her. For Kelly it's a no brainer, she doesn't have a steady, so sex is the furthest thing from her mind. Mina is harboring a secret, instead of telling Lizzie she and Brian, a star basketball player at Del Rio Bay High School, already crossed the line, she hides this fact, but others know and when one knows its bound to be revealed. The pact is a moot point for Cinny because her period is late and she fears she's pregnant. As Lizzie embarks on the pact, Todd feels he's the odd man out. How can his girl make such a commitment without discussing it with him? When all is revealed, allegiances are tested and the Del Rio Bay clique may not survive. Chase has touched on a myriad of subjects teens face on a daily basis. Her social commentary is subtle, but on point. Cinny was sent to live with her aunt from Northern Del Rio Bay to attend Del Rio Bay High School, the premier suburban school, to receive a better education, however she finds herself possibly pregnant. Kelly is trying to outrun her former boyfriend, Angel, a drug dealer who swears he's gone legit and at the same time begins a new relationship with a star lacrosse player. For her, this is what a real relationship feels like. Mina is trying to spend as much time as she can with Brian before he heads off to Duke University in the fall. The parents, grandparents and other family members of the teens play pivotal rolls with their knowledge of growing up, which is highlighted in the story. Even though this is a tough subject for many to tackle, Chase has added many humorous scenes and one-liners that provide laugh out loud moments. Her use of imagery is detailed and vivid and the behavior of the characters is stereotypical but realistic. There is one more installment to the Del Rio Bay Clique and at that point I suppose we'll see how everything plays out when the boys head off to college, return and head off again. This is a very good story for high schoolers and parents alike to read. Want to know what is running through the minds of teens and issues they face regardless of where you live, read this. Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

It's almost the end of the school year. Not much is happening at DRB: upcoming prom, tutoring sessions, sex, virginity pacts and missing periods. For Mina, things with her and Brian are cruising along good. She's saddened by the fact that soon he'll be leaving her for college. Instead of dwelling on that fact, she's making it so that they become inseparable. The two become so close that Mina begins neglecting her self-appointed role as overseer in regards to the clique. Lizzie and Todd are gently passing the awkwardly cute stage. Lizzie enjoys his time, his sense of humor and even likes their "make out" sessions. Lately, she fears that they are accelerating into a lane she's so not ready for and decides to coast to the side of the road. Kelly is coming more and more out of her shell. It's been some time since she's seen or heard from Angel. As usual, Mina's meddling has given Kelly something to do with her free time. Greg, a student she's tutoring in Spanish, may not be making those grades, but he appears to be the right speed for Kelly until Angel becomes a bump in the road. Cinny finds herself stuck in stop and go traffic. While she and Heem journeyed back into a relationship, she's feeling a little pressed right now. Heem is headed off to college. Unlike Mina, she can't wait to see him go. Before she can get too happy, her period doesn't show up and Heem is talking about "we," as in forever. Cinny finds herself in a serious fender-bender. Frustration and desperation leave the clique hot and sticky. Mina finds herself fighting not only with Brian, but Lizzie too. Lizzie is content with the mess that has become of her and Todd's relationship. Poor Kelly gets caught up in Angel's web. A missing period puts Cinny's entire life on hiatus. Will the clique be able to put a halt to all of the theatrics before it's too late? Who You Wit? is the fourth installment to the Del Rio Bay series. Despite the serious subject matter, it dishes out a witty and bracing observation into the life of teens. As always, I'm pleased that authors, especially those writing teen novels, are accountable. While the book may be written for teens, parents can relax in knowing that the messages are not only significant, but deal with the consequences as well. Who You Wit? and The DRB series are an easy recommendation for young readers. Reviewed by Nardsbaby for Urban Reviews

WHO YOU WIT'? PAULA CHASE Contemporary Young Adult Rating: 4.5 Enchantments The characters of the Del Rio grow up in a big way in WHO YOU WIT'? When Lizzie decides to have all the girls join a year long virginity pact, it couldn't be at a worse time. With Brian getting ready to go off to college in a few short months Mina's already played her V-card, while Jacinta suddenly finds herself dealing with a serious issue--she just might be pregnant. While Lizzie's hoping the pact will keep her from going too far with Todd, the pact might be just the thing that will tear the girls friendship apart. Ms. Chase does a wonderful job with the storylines in WHO YOU WIT'? The issues of teen sex and pregnancy are handled really well, but don't overpower the story with a negative vibe like some books tend to do. I loved how Lizzie had her cell phone timed to go off fifteen minutes into her make out session with Todd and how Jacinta handled her own situation. The scene near the end of the book with the girls waiting for the test results in Jacinta's bathroom was one of my favorites in the whole series. While the girls friendship is tested more in this book than previously in the series, it's nice to see a group of friends who stick so close together, no matter what the issues might be between them. You can learn more about the book at http://www.paulachasehyman.com/wit.php and check out an excerpt here: http://www.paulachasehyman.com/wit1.php Look for the last book in the series to release in 2009. Lisa Enchanting Reviews November 2008