The Free-Girls Club

Leah Reed's perfect life shatters when a mysterious health condition derails her dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and soccer star. Rock bottom arrives in the form of a fender bender with Judith Johns' beat-up Buick. Judith's life isn't going according to plan, either. She's furious at her sister for dying, and furious with her family for refusing to grieve. A gifted mechanic, she finds solace in Philadelphia's gritty street racing scene. But when Leah's accident threatens her only escape, Judith's world ignites with fury-and an unexpected opportunity. As Leah works off her debt at the Johns' family auto shop, she discovers a hidden talent for mechanics and the intoxicating thrill of street racing. Behind the wheel, for the first time since her diagnosis, she feels alive. When a ruthless competitor threatens to crush Judith's family business, these unlikely allies hatch a daring plan. Together with junior artist and street-racing aficionado Mika Flores, they'll storm Philly's male-dominated racing circuit, demanding respect, a fair shot, and a cut of the prize money. But in a world where one wrong turn can cost you everything, Leah and Judith must decide how much they're willing to risk for a shot at redemption, belonging, and the ride of their lives. This YA fiction includes a discussion guide for small groups, classes, or individual reflection.