A Diamond in My Pocket / Lorena Angell / 395 pages / 7 Swans a Swimming December Challenge

Calli Courtnae is a member of her high school track team and has just set the school, and the men's world, record in the 100 meter dash.  Her friend joined the team last year when he was a sophomore from the encouragement of his Algebra teacher, Coach Simms.  He joined because an extracurricular sport was better than being home alone after school.  His father is a brain surgeon and his mother is a psychiatrist.  Calli's fascination with the medical field started when she was deafened by a firecracker prank in middle school.  She regained her hearing and retained her lip reading ability which made school very interesting and frustrating   She is invited to train with the U.S. Olympic team.  Except that's not where she is taken.  Instead, she becomes a new, much maligned member of The Compound, a group with cosmic powers who must defeat demons and death...