twowaystreetTitle: Two Way Street
Author: Lauren Barnholdt
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Summary:
Courtney has a problem.

She’s been dumped by her boyfriend Jordan just weeks before the two are scheduled to road trip from Florida to New England. Leaving home for the first time the two were heading up North to begin their freshman year at Boston University together.

Having met at a party earlier in the year the unlikely couple built an emotional bond that delved deeper than the typical jock and the brain stereotypes assigned them by their high school peers. That’s why, when Jordan unceremoniously and unexpectedly breaks up with her. Claiming he wants to be with a girl he’s met on MySpace Courtney’s understandably hurt and confused by his sudden change.

Feeling abandoned and more than a little pissed Courtney begs her parents to relent and allow her to travel to college via any other means. Sadly, they feel she will be fine with Jordan and is ultimately forced to drive the 1,500 miles with her ex.

It is at this point that the reader experiences the young couple’s tension and comedy as they struggle against their emotions while hopping from the Sunshine State to New England. Precariously navigating the East Coast, each other, and their relationships with friends and family ends in Boston when a surprising twist is revealed. It is here that secrets are revealed and strong consequences are brought to bear on both their lives and relationships.

Opinion:
Two Way Street was a cute and quick read. As a member of the audience that is far older than Barnholdt’s target I was pleased that it kept me entertained despite the fact that my own relationship experience gave me a much different perspective of Jordan and Courtney’s situation.

Barnholdt wrote her teenage characters with great clarity and in a most believable way. The jock wasn’t too dumb, the brain too smart, and their friends were the right combination of comic relief and supportive sounding board. The situations they found themselves in for the most part were high school oriented (parties, dates, etc.) and showcased in a realistic light.

I did, however, have a small problem with the idea that Courtney’s parents made her go on a cross-country road trip with Jordan despite their break up. I found that somewhat unbelievable. I doubt a parent would add to an already stressful situation (going off to college for the first time) by requiring their child to travel with a former boy/girlfriend. Having said that, I was able to over look that aspect to enjoy the different situations Jordan and Courtney were put into. I was able to compartmentalize the parental issue, as it really was what drove the overarching plot.

The strength of Two Way Street lies in the author’s ability to write the story from both Jordan and Coutrney’s viewpoint. Going back and forth in time as well as character viewpoint is no small task and Barnholdt did so without confusing the reader. Unique visual prompts allowed us to know where we were in the story and with whom thus making it easy to follow.

Two Way Street was a good look into the minds of teenagers as they manage to navigate the relationships in their lives, become distinct individuals, and mature into adulthood.