Seventeen-year-old Allie O'Brien is a top-caliber track and cross-country runner with ambitious goals. She plans on winning an athletic scholarship to Virginia Tech so she can study to become a successful writer one day. But before Allie can move forward toward her future, there are a few hurdles she must overcome.
After being kicked off the track and cross-country teams at her old school for smoking pot, Allie comes to Riverbend High School looking for a fresh start. But no sooner does she get to Riverbend than she resorts to bad habits and becomes a target for bullies.
Her first real friend is the handsome Ruben Gonzales. He, too, has come to Riverbend looking for a fresh start. And just like Allie, he's struggling with substance abuse. He's also facing drug gang reprisals. To make matters worse, he's carrying a world-shaking secret related to his recent emigration from El Salvador following his father's death amid a brutal civil war.
Can Allie and Ruben overcome the obstacles they face? Or will their friendship prove to be a recipe for disaster? Follow their journey in Route 1 Rendezvous as their demons and their dreams engage in all-out war.
About the Author: Terry McConnell is a former school librarian, social studies teacher, special education worker, and track and cross-country coach. His career as an educator spanned forty years, most of which were spent at a high school near Route 1 in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County, Virginia, where he also lived for many years.
Over the decades, McConnell worked closely with thousands of students and became intimately familiar with the trials and tribulations they face in the classroom, the hallways, and beyond. He witnessed firsthand the tolls bullying, substance abuse, and dysfunctional relationships take on young lives-and so, too, experienced firsthand how guidance, encouragement, and learning can help turn things around. As a school librarian, he conducted numerous book clubs with students and gave book talks to motivate them to read and discover the ideas and skills needed to confront life's challenges head on.
