Catherine Ryan Hyde is fast becoming one of my favorite authors for young adults. This book is one of the reasons for that. It's about two homeless teens, Jordy and Chloe, who befriend each other. There's nothing romantic going on here because Jordy is gay, but the two become soul mates. Chloe, who has experienced unknown horrors earlier in her life (she won't talk about them) is falling into a deep depression, even after their life stabilizes a bit when they get to move into an apartment. Jordy wants nothing but to save her. Chloe, who has never left New York, gets it into her head that maybe she will want to live if someone shows her the beautiful things in life she has never seen, like Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, riding horses on the beach at Big Sur. So, they start off across the country in search of all that is beautiful. And speaking of all that is beautiful, this books fits the category wonderfully! ( )

17- year-old Jordan "Jordy" is homeless after coming out to his homophobic parents. His life changes one night when he saves a girl from being raped. Her name is Chloe, and she is extremely childlike, although she has seen horrible things growing up. She is also strangely determined and strong willed, and Jordy witnesses this firsthand when he becomes sick and Chloe sits outside the hospital for hours to get him medicine. Events change for them, and result in the two of them taking a road trip together; Jordy is trying to show Chloe that the world is a beautiful place, even though he is not so sure what they will find. ( )

17-year-old Jordy--a runaway after coming out to his homophobic parents--didn't know it was going to change his life when he saves a beautiful blond girl from rape. Suddenly he's stuck taking care of Chloe--which is not her real name but is preferred over her real one--who is strangely childlike although incredibly smart and determined at times. Jordy's got problems of his own, too, but he can't help feeling that he must protect Chloe, that something terrible has happened to her and that she is using her childlike disposition to mask her past.

An unfortunate string of events leads to Jordy and Chloe heading on a road trip across America, so that Chloe can hopefully learn that it's a beautiful world out there, not just full of abuse and neglect. They see beauty, but they also encounter some terrible things as well...but in the end, isn't that what it's all about? The world is both good and bad, and it's only by becoming part of it that you can truly live life.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is an amazingly talented writer. From the start, I was pulled into Jordy and Chloe's predicament, and despite the perpetual air of mystery that hung around the duo, I was able to get to know them very well. Chloe reminds me a lot of Stargirl, only with a dark past that we never get to know. Leaving Chloe's past a mystery may be frustrating, but it strengthens the message of this here-and-now book, which is to live life in the moment and not allow your past to dictate your future. For anyone looking for an uplifting road-trip story that will linger with you for a while, BECOMING CHLOE is THE number one choice. ( )

What lengths would you go to for someone who has saved your life? Jordan and Chloe are two loners, fending for themselves on the streets until they meet and become fast friends. Jordan feels that he owes his life to Chloe, who is very innocent and childlike, a mystery to him. As they begin to trust in each other, Chloe is unable to cope with reality and she becomes depressed. Jordan is determined to show her all the beauty there is in the world and convinces her to go on a road trip across the country. Can Jordan convince her that the world contains more good than bad? ( )

Intriugeing, I love chloe's energy totally cool! ( )