Treadmill Called Life

Treadmill Called Life, Digital Nomads, Amazon Digital Services, 2019

Set in present-day Florida, this short novel is about a high school student named Cricket (her real name is Elise). She, and her parents, feel that her ticket to college is via a sports scholarship. Cricket's life now revolves around sports. If she isn't swimming, or playing basketball, she is involved in softball, or some other sport. If she isn't actually competing, she is at home, in the free-standing workout room that her parents built for her. Cricket is very diligent about not missing practice or competitions, but the word "prison" comes to mind.

Brady is another student at the same high school. His cavalier attitude toward education has gotten him expelled (for one prank too many). He is all about having fun with life. Brady and Cricket get together, and Brady begins to think that Cricket is special. Maybe it is time to start easing up on the pranks, and the getting in trouble. Brady convinces Cricket that occasionally skipping class, or skipping practice, is not the end of the world.

The police get involved, because, one night, Cricket's workout room burns to the ground. Brady has been arrested several times on various juvenile charges. An adult charge, like arson, will send him to jail for a long time. Cricket tries to confess, saying that she left a candle unattended. The police are not even close to accepting her story. Does Brady go to prison? Do Cricket and Brady start an official relationship?

On the positive side, this is an interesting tale about high school like that is worth checking out. On the negative side, this book really needs a trip, or another trip, to a proofreader whose native language is English.