A thoughtful take on grief and growth.
A grieving teen begins to question everything she believes.
The Flyy Girls return with Micah Dupree, who is known to be a rule-following “good girl” who tries to live up to her parents’ high standards and follow the word of God. Until last summer, that was fine by her—but as the anniversary of the day she lost her brother approaches, Micah has started to wonder if living up to everyone else’s expectations outweighs the personal toll it takes. With the help of her therapist, Micah tries to manage her anxiety and unpack her feelings about religion, grief, and losing her virginity to the serious boyfriend she’s been secretly dating. Micah begins to find solace in her brother’s artwork when she notices the messages hidden within it and learns he may not have been as “perfect” as she thought. Micah’s realizations culminate in a beautiful senior project, giving readers a satisfying end with an expectation of more to come. Woodfolk’s ability to create compelling characters shines in this follow-up to Lux: The New Girl (2020). In straightforward language, the author normalizes having anxiety and seeing a therapist as a young Black girl navigating the unexpected death of a beloved brother. This third-person narrative moves quickly without feeling disjointed, making it appealing to reluctant readers. Micah and other characters are Black.
A thoughtful take on grief and growth. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-09605-5
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: July 7, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
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
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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