Staying on track at school means a boy-free equation for Rhonda Lee, who spends most evenings doing homework and eating Chinese takeout with her dad. While Rhonda needs a scholarship for college, some kids at her private high school, like beautiful Sarah Gamble, seem to coast along on popularity and their parents' money. When forced to tutor Sarah in trigonometry, Rhonda recognizes all too well the symptoms - queasiness, puking, and exhaustion - that Sarah is trying to mask. On a sudden impulse, Rhonda shares her past with Sarah. Exchanging their secrets adds up to more truths than either girl would have dreamed. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Following a nasty breakup, Rhonda Lee, 14, learned she was pregnant. After having an abortion, she foreswore boys, especially rich, popular ones like former boyfriend asshole Christopher, devoting herself instead to winning back her father's good opinion and working on her grades. Now a senior hoping for a scholarship to Georgia Tech, Rhonda earns money as a math tutor. Reluctantly she begins helping Sarah Gamble, another black student at her school, one of the in-crowd. Upon learning Sarah is secretly pregnant, Rhonda's heartache resurfaces, but that doesn't stop her from trying to support Sarah in making her own difficult choices. In the meantime, Sarah's brother, David, tests Rhonda's resolve to devote herself to her studies. Elements of an old-fashioned problem novel are evident (especially in the portrayals of the controlling parents), and David is far too saintly to believe. But there's wry humor here, and the sometimes raw dialogue is well done. What's most interesting, though, is the way Rhonda tries to get beyond her past as she channels her anger and pain into numbers and theorems.--Zvirin, Stephanie Copyright 2007 Booklist From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.