Slalom

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Sandro, having always lived in poverty with his mother in a wealthy ski resort town, finds his life transformed when the father he has never met suddenly returns and wants to be part of the family. Sandro Birch is a born skier. In fact, his mother met his father on the slopes of a posh resort, and she's told the story so many times he's sick of it. Handsome Italian Olympic hopeful saves All-American Scholarship Girl. Except the handsome Italian left the All-American Girl with the bills and a baby on the way. Seventeen years later, Sandro and his mother are still living at the ski resort. She thinks Alessandro Senior, her true love, will come back; Sandro knows he won't, and spends all of his after-school time working, saving up to leave. Then fate steps in. Alessandro does come back. And suddenly townie Sandro Birch has a shot at the ski team, a girlfriend, and a real family--if he conquers his anger and learns how to trust. S.L. Rottman's fast-paced sports action and sharp characterization are sure to keep readers turning the pages.