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Played is a 2005 young adult fiction novel written by author Dana Davidson. The story focuses on two eleventh graders, Ian Striver and Kylie. Ian Striver, a junior, desires to be a part of an elite underground fraternal group at his high school called FBI, Freaky Boys Incorporated. At a school dance, a friend of Ian dares him to sleep with plain-jane Kylie and have her fall for him in three weeks, promising him a one-hundred dollar pay off and invitation to the Freak Fest, which guarantees membership into the FBI. Ian initially views the challenge as easy, since he is not attracted to Kylie, but things take a turn, and he soon realizes that there is more to Kylie than what meets the eye.

Structure
This novel shifts between the main characters, Ian Striver and Kylie, points of view. The story begins in the perspective of Ian.

Plot
Ian Striver and the FBI arrive at a party at their high school, Cross. They went as a joke without the intention of staying, while scoping out the girls at the party, the young men from the FBI begin to playfully compete with each other, on which one is a better player; Michael one of Ian's friends, initially bets fifty dollars for Ian to prove that he's really the best player, Ian accepts. At first the rules are simple, Michael would choose a girl from within the party, and Ian simply had to have sex with her. As they scan the cafeteria for prospective girls, they come across a group of girls, from within that group, Michael selects Kylie. Ian groans at the sight of Kylie, Michael increases the bet money from fifty dollars to one hundred, and guaranteed acceptance into the FBI once Ian completes the challenge, although he is not attracted to her, he pursues her. Ian asks Kylie to dance, after, he leads her out to the hallway, and subtly flirts with her before getting her name and number. He walks her back into the dance and leaves.

Kylie's Friends, Desiree (Dez) and Tracy, are watching when Kylie reenters the cafeteria, when she returns to their area of the party, they proceed to bombard her with questions about what Ian wanted, and whether or not they had been talking previous to the dance, to which she replies no because she's shocked herself. Kylie woke up that morning with the feeling that something special would happen, and waited with anticipation while she went about her daily routine. When she saw that Ian was making his way across the cafeteria, she knew that he was coming to her.

Ian calls Kylie the next night, promising himself that the phone call would not exceed ten minutes, however, they both get caught up in their conversation and they spend almost an hour talking. Ian asks Kylie on a date, which she accepts. When the conversation is over Ian begins to realize that Kylie is a no longer someone he didn't know and that she has a name, personality, and a voice. Despite the fact that the conversation with Kylie sparks an interest in him for her, he's still not attracted to her, and reminds himself of the challenge. After Kylie hangs up the phone, she begins to question the chain of events leading to the phone call, and although she is subconsciously suspicious of Ian's intentions, she ignores that instinct because she desires for her life to be more exciting. When Kylie asks her mother to go on the date, her mom allows her but becomes suspicious since no male had ever shown interest in her daughter.

When Ian and Kylie go on their first date, it starts off awkward at first, but they begin warming up to each other; at the end of the date, they kiss. Ian is shocked by the kiss and automatically finds himself thinking about Kylie more than he's willing to admit. Over the next two weeks, Kylie and Ian's relationship begins to develop with both of them falling for each other, she introduces him to her mom and little brother and sister, and he introduces her to his sister, they begin to mess around, hang out, and although Ian's feelings for Kylie are growing strong and genuine, he tells himself that his reputation with his friends is far more important than his relationship with Kylie. Ian continues to report to his friends about the progress he's made in his challenge, and they mock and make fun of her every time, which makes Ian feel guilty enough to deny the payment of $100. The weekend before the end of the challenge, Ian convinces Kylie to lose his virginity to him, though very reluctant, she allows herself to go with the flow.

The Monday after they have sex, Ian writes a letter to Kylie, expressing how he truly feels, but he also intends on using her response letter as proof of meeting the challenges requirements. While showing his boys, a girl that Ian had initially desired for her curvaceousness, Tricia, over hears the boys talking about Kylie's letter and snatches it from him, reading it aloud in the cafeteria, in her response to Ian's letter, Kylie writes about falling for him and the details the fact that she lost her virginity to him. Tricia, who has been crushing on Ian, is hurt, Ian feeling bad explains the situation to her and tells her about the dare to sleep with Kylie. At the same time, Tricia and Ian begin a relationship. Tricia starts telling people that the only reason he slept with Kylie was because of a dare, it spreads around the school and while in class, a classmate tells Tracy about Tricia reading the letter out loud and Ian's bet. Tracy tells Kylie what's been spreading around the school, and fills Dez in, when Kylie approaches Ian he gives her the cold shoulder, trying not to look bad in front of his friends and Tricia, but desperately wanting to explain everything to her.

After realizing that he's made a mistake, Ian breaks up with Tricia, ends his friendship with Michael and quits the FBI. He then constantly fights to get Kylie back, promising to wait for her and regain her trust.

Characters

 * Ian Striver--Age 16. A junior at Cross High School, who is focused on getting into the FBI. He initially is neither attracted or interested in Kylie, but falls for her as they get to know each other.


 * Kylie--Age 16. A junior at Cross, that begins a relationship with Ian, she constantly questions his motives, seeing as he never paid attention to her, but dismisses her intuition due to her desire for more fun in her life, she feels as though she is more of an old lady than a sixteen year old because when her mother isn't around, all the responsibility falls on her shoulder. She falls for Ian quickly, and though learning his motives and what he did, believes that what they experienced over the past three weeks may have started as a ruse, but Ian fell for her in that time as well.


 * Dez (Desiree)--Exact age not specified. One of Kylie's best friends, she's distrust Ian based on things she's heard about his past, as well as the fact that Ian never paid attention to Kylie, and he all of sudden wants to talk and take her out. She is against the relationship but tells Kylie to be careful and smart.


 * Tracy--Exact age not specified. One of Kylie's best friends. She's more open and encouraging to Kylie's relationship with Ian, but urges her to be careful and suggests that she shouldn't sleep with him.


 * Ms. Winship-- Kylie's mother. She cautiously watches Ian because she suspects that his intentions may not be pure, her daughter never received attention from boys, and now Ian was taking Kylie out and always calling her.


 * Kim-- Age 20. Ian's older sister. She takes a liking to Kylie and offers to do her hair free and in return Kylie can work at her salon. She gives Kylie advice about Ian.


 * Terrance--Age not specified. A young man at Cross that has a crush on Kylie, and offers to tutor her in Math.


 * Mr. Striver--Ian's father. He is divorced from Ian's mother and he's remarried. He puts his second family first and neglects Ian and Kim, which creates a tense relationship for the three.


 * Stevie and Nae Nae-- Kylie's younger brother and sister, whom she takes care of.

Critical Reception
School Library Journal writes, Grade 9 Up–Ian Striver is challenged to prove himself worthy of joining his Detroit high school's elite fraternity. He has two weeks to make plain and unpopular Kylie fall for him and sleep with him. Although he feels uncomfortable, he turns on his charm and asks her out. Kylie has never had so much attention before; though her friends try to convince her that Ian is a player, she develops feelings for him. When she finally has sex with him and tells him how she feels, his deception is accidentally revealed in front of the entire school. Ian has to come to terms with the man he is becoming, and try to convince Kylie to trust him again. This look at high school fraternities is reminiscent of Sharon M. Draper's The Battle of Jericho (S & S, 2003), though the conclusion is not quite so extreme. Kylie is not popular, but she has true friendships. Ian may be popular, but he has sacrificed his integrity to be so, and he is unhappy. It isn't until his sister points out that he is turning out like his absentee father that he realizes he needs to change. Davidson's understanding of teen motivations and language is apparent here. Though the topic is nothing new, the author's voice and the urban setting make it fresh and relevant to teens. –Stephanie L. Petruso, Anne Arundel County Public Library, Odenton, MD

Booklist writes, Gr. 9-12. Gorgeous Ian Striver is horrified when he receives his final challenge for entry into the FBI, an exclusive fraternity at Cross High School. Not only must he prove that he has gotten plain Kylie Winship, an obvious virgin, to "give it up," but he must also prove that she has fallen in love with him. Although Ian is prepared to fulfill the challenge, he isn't ready to fall in love himself. Neither is Kylie prepared to fall for Ian, who sometimes even humiliates her. Davidson, the author of Jason and Kyra (2004), has written a disturbing, authentic romance. The characters are African American, but the story is focused on plot and characters rather than ethnicity. Direct and affecting, this will pull at readers' heartstrings while also serving as fair warning for teenage girls everywhere. Frances Bradburn

Jacqueline Woodson, author of Locomotion, writes "Dana Davidson has written a novel that will have readers completely absorbed from the first page to the last. Kudos to this fresh voice!"