Perfect Chemistry

by Simone Elkeles

Walker Books for Young Readers, 2008

main characters: Alejandro Fuentes; Brittany Ellis

He’s everything that she isn’t, so everyone thinks. We read the cover and assume we’ll be reading another good girl/bad boy opposites attracting-type of books. But what we get is a story of what can happen when people get to know one another. When Alex (Latino, gang member), on the pretense of a guy bet, gets to know Brittany (White, cheerleader) he realizes there is more to her perfect façade. Brittany realizes Alex may wear the colors of the Bloods and he may talk tough, but he has brothers, a warm home and a real brain.

Alex and Brittany are forced to work together in Chemistry class where this wise young teacher knows there is more to learn in school than content matter so she decides who will pair with whom. These two young people don’t want to work together, but ah… they does’t protest too much! The story evolves to bring them together in a manner that seems real, never too contrived. Situations such as racism, Alex’s desire to leave the gang and Brittany’s strong relationship with her special needs sister add layers of meaning to the reading without weighing the story down.