The Contemps: Spotlight on THE RIVALS by Daisy Whitney

Released February 6, 2012 from Little Brown

When Alex Patrick was assaulted by another student last year, her elite boarding school wouldn't do anything about it. This year Alex is head of the Mockingbirds, a secret society of students who police and protect the student body. While she desperately wants to live up to the legacy that's been given to her, she's now dealing with a case unlike any the Mockingbirds have seen before.

It isn't rape. It isn't bullying. It isn't hate speech. A far-reaching prescription drug ring has sprung up, and students are using the drugs to cheat. But how do you try a case with no obvious victim? Especially when the facts don't add up, and each new clue drives a wedge between Alex and the people she loves most: her friends, her boyfriend, and her fellow Mockingbirds.

As Alex unravels the layers of deceit within the school, the administration, and even the student body the Mockingbirds protect, her struggle to navigate the murky waters of vigilante justice may reveal more about herself than she ever expected.

Also known as Mockingbirds #2, THE RIVALS is an intriguing follow-up to the debut released by Daisy Whitney in 2011. A surprising and thoughtful book, The Rivals continues on with characters from the first book, introduces new characters and deepens connections in a realistic and edgy new story.

FROM KIRKUS

The story is ultimately driven by plot, and the author effectively shuttles readers through the twists, turns and double-crosses of the investigation as well as the ups and downs of a romance. Kirkus Reviews

By day, Daisy Whitney is a producer, podcaster and reporter in the new media business. At night, she writes novels for teens and "The Mockingbirds" was her debut. When Daisy's not inventing fictional high school worlds, she can be found somewhere north of San Francisco walking her adorable dog, watching online videos with her fabulous husband or playing with her fantastic kids. A graduate of Brown University, she believes in shoes, chocolate chip cookies and karma.