An inspiring tale of how art provides both solace and purpose.
A 17-year-old lives in the shadow of her older brother’s stardom in this contemporary novel set in Brighton, England.
Meg’s whole family changed when Casper got a record deal as a teen, though he is now struggling to write new songs. Her parents are hyperfocused on his career and their family’s social media presence, to the point that they are not even aware that Meg herself is also a gifted singer/songwriter. Pushed by her mother into taking a job at a frozen yogurt shop for the summer, Meg meets talented co-worker Alana, who sings at open mics and embodies a confidence that Meg aspires to. Meanwhile, Meg is plagued by self-doubt as she resists revealing her identity to Matty, a boy from school with whom she has fallen in love over the course of their ongoing online exchanges. This family drama compellingly touches on many issues—chief among them cyberbullying and its ill effects. Alana, who is fat, is a target of hostile abuse. If at times the overarching message of finding and using one’s own voice is a bit obvious and the wrap-up a little neat, this story nicely balances heavier elements with an authentic portrayal of the power of music. Main characters are cued as White.
An inspiring tale of how art provides both solace and purpose. (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: June 16, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-78226-675-4
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Clock Tower Publishing
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
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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