If you’re looking for a quick read geared at teens, then Sugar Crash is a great option. The tale of a diabetic teen, Zoe, who ends up in a car crash with her former friend, Vic, on their way to a mandatory school function, it also highlights two things: the importance of having survival skills, and the dangers of Type 1 diabetes.
Sugar Crash by Melinda Di Lorenzo
Will Zoe be rescued before she runs out of insulin? This is a real question, asked at the beginning of the book. After that, the events unfold, leading to Zoe and Vic both injured and lost in the woods. At a few points throughout the book, they’re almost rescued, but things get worse and they find themselves at a ravine, having been caught in a mud slide.
Thankfully, Zoe knows how to start a fire, but she has to sacrifice something that she needs dearly. Meanwhile, Vic is bleeding from a chest wound. Will they be rescued in time?
My Thoughts on Sugar Crash
Growing up, the only book character that had diabetes was Stacy in the Babysitter’s Club series. Those books taught reads two things: that Stacy was bullied out of New York for being diabetic, and she can’t eat certain foods. That’s it. Sugar Crash paints a more realistic picture of diabetes, making it a must-read for anyone who wants to learn about their friends’ conditions without having to ask. It also normalizes the condition, showing that it isn’t contagious of anything of the sort.
As for the plot of the book, I liked it. It was a short novella, and its goes quick. I read it in one sitting. There are two main characters in the book, Zoe and Vic, and they are introduced in a descriptive manner. From there, you learn about the events that unfold from the viewpoint of Zoe, who also goes into the past, remembering how she and Vic used to be best friends. Although the tension is there, in more ways than one, I’d call Sugar Crash by Melinda Di Lorenzo a light thriller. Go and read it for fun.
Mandy's Book Nook 