Dark YA #2

 Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh 

This stressed me out; not as much as the first book but still quite a bit. Johnny is recovering from his surgery and has no way of getting in touch with Shannon who is in the hospital because of the beating from her father. Johnny calls Joey, no answer. Johnny finally figures out what's going on and he is not okay. He tries to get his parents involved and they seem like they want to help but don't or can't. The police are finally involved; her mom has a restraining order against her dad. Darren, the oldest brother is back to take care of everyone but it's much harder than he realizes. Also, he is making things worse because of his own experiences with the foster system. He and mom both forbid Johnny from seeing Shannon; that doesn't go well and once he's cleared to drive he takes her to and from school everyday. Joey is in and out of the house and on some serious drugs. Then, her dad shows up. He makes sure everyone is in their rooms and disappears downstairs. Shannon calls Johnny and he helps her escape then he gets her three younger brothers out of the house. Luckily, mom was looking at the front door instead of dad and she helps cover any noise he makes; he promises to come back for her and she says "save my babies" then he takes everyone to his house. Once he gets everyone settled he's about to go back to try to help her and his dad tells him there has been a fire. They both get there and the house is a wreck and Joey is in terrible shape thinking Shannon and the boys are in there. Johnny comforts him and takes him home. Darren shows up at the Kavanaugh house and he gets comforted too. Johnny's parents get guardianship of Shannon and the boys and they help Joey get into rehab. The funeral is heart-wrenching; Joey and Darren at the only ones on their mom's side of the family and they ask Johnny and his rugby friends to help them carry her casket then Joey leaves for rehab. Johnny fully recovers and is cleared to play. He not only makes the U20s, but he also makes the national team. He is gone for about a month, but calls and writes Shannon constantly. On the day of his big international match they go to the pub and watch him and she wears one of his game worn jerseys. The book ends with him back home, them reunited, and him deciding to finish off school before going pro; he decided he needed to be a kid just for a little longer. This sets up the next book really well.