Deuker, Carl. Runner

Deuker, Carl. Runner. Houghton Mifflin, 2005 [0-618-54298-1]
Chance is a HS student living with his alcoholic father on a boat in the Puget Sound. His father is always losing jobs and one day Chance is given the opportunity to deliver packages on his running route. He suspects he is delivering drugs because the pay is so good .. but he (and his father) need the money. Meanwhile he becomes interested in joining the school newspaper and the head of the newspaper sees him always stopping at the same place in his run and suspects something. One day the packages he delivers change.. then his contact commits suicide driving off a cliff. What can he do? Is he involved in more than drug smuggling now? Deuker's books have always been popular with my students. While this 216 page one is not centered on sports, I feel it is Deuker's best yet.. suspense, mystery..ethics and so much more.. Don't miss it.