An alternately poignant and action-packed revenge fantasy.
Girls failed by authorities take justice into their own hands—if only Cass knew whom to take vengeance on.
Five months after escaping an abduction attempt, Cass’ life is still held captive thanks to mysterious letters from her attacker, letters that demonstrate he can get to her at any time. After the victim-blaming and doubts she faced from the police after the attack, she gives up and suffers in silence until realizing that other girls around her have been abandoned to face their own demons. Margot was pressured into a more physical relationship than she was ready for and is now being blackmailed with photographic proof of it. Ori wants to take down a racist teacher who thus far has been shielded by powerful connections. Nomi wants to prevent her abusive former stepfather from hurting anyone else. The four come together in a revenge pact, becoming “dangerous girls” in order to scheme against their abusers and hunt down Cass’ stalker. While the plots against the known antagonists are straightforward if risky, the larger storyline centers on untangling Cass’ mystery. It’s a twisted, convoluted whodunit with unexpected connections—at times, readers might question motives, but the dangerous situations and fast pace help keep things moving as Cass and her friends continue playing with fire while doing their best to avoid lasting consequences. Ori’s Black; Nomi’s Japanese American; other main characters are White.
An alternately poignant and action-packed revenge fantasy. (Thriller. 13-18)Pub Date: Oct. 19, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-338-72616-9
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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