Outstanding transgender and disabled representation shines through despite less robust worldbuilding.
Two trans teens find each other and themselves in this romantic fantasy for fans of Kristin Cashore’s Graceling and A.R. Capetta’s The Brilliant Death.
Bigender Val has always felt like both a boy and a girl: Valencia, a lady-in-waiting in Eliana’s court, and Gael, a knife-wielding boy assassin. Cade isn’t sure who he is anymore: Having transitioned and gone stealth, he has no interest in the throne but frequently doubles for his brother, Patrick, Adare’s reluctant prince. Val and Cade are enemies, both convinced they saw the other curse their families into an enchanted sleep that escalated their nations’ long-running war. When royalty from both sides agree to pursue diplomacy, Cade and Val are reluctantly—and then not-so-reluctantly—thrust into each other’s orbits. Although readers will root for Val and Cade as individuals and partners, the kingdoms’ underdeveloped magic systems and ever present yet lightly explored conflict can make it difficult to be invested in the enemies portion of their enemies-to-lovers romance. The nations of Eliana and Adare are inspired by Mexico and Ireland, respectively. Val uses a cane due to scoliosis and hypermobility, and Cade has a staff, which helps with walking following a war injury to his knee. Refreshingly, their disabilities are woven into every part of their narratives, including highly compelling fight scenes. Although secondary characters feel less fleshed out, there are many queer secondary characters, including an entire transmasc abbey with a binder business.
Outstanding transgender and disabled representation shines through despite less robust worldbuilding. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: May 16, 2023
ISBN: 9781250822239
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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
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
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