The prospect of a blissful senior year darkens for a teenager when he's swept into the local political arena. With best bud Mosi, a one-man garage band, and Sweaty Betty, ``the most excellent girl since the beginning of girls,'' by his side, it looks like smooth sailing for Gordie—especially after Fins Foley, his ex-mayor grandpa, currently serving five-to-fifteen for racketeering, loans him a pristine 1963 Studebaker Gran Tourismo convertible. There's a price for those wheels: As a ploy to scare Fins's chosen successor back into line, Gordie enters the primary mayoral election. Hilarious complications ensue, as Gordie unwisely joins sleazy radio talk-jock Mad Matt Baker on the air, runs for senior class president, and sees his every ill-considered utterance instantly leaked to a rabid press. Beneath the belly-laughs and blipped one-liners, Lynch goes easy on his cast: The caricatures are relatively gentle; Gordie's friends may not be mental giants, but they are caring; and Gordie doesn't fumble the important passes. The mood becomes more earnest toward the end, as Gordie realizes that the campaign was just a way of easing Fins into retirement. The satire has a nip, but it's not as savage as Lynch's Blue-Eyed Son trilogy (Mick, 1996, etc.). (Fiction. 12-15)
Pub Date: Oct. 30, 1996
ISBN: 0-06-027360-7
Page Count: 168
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1996
When Clara Luna, 14, visits rural Mexico for the summer to visit the paternal grandparents she has never met, she cannot know her trip will involve an emotional and spiritual journey into her family’s past and a deep connection to a rich heritage of which she was barely aware. Long estranged from his parents, Clara’s father had entered the U.S. illegally years before, subsequently becoming a successful business owner who never spoke about what he left behind. Clara’s journey into her grandmother’s history (told in alternating chapters with Clara’s own first-person narrative) and her discovery that she, like her grandmother and ancestors, has a gift for healing, awakens her to the simple, mystical joys of a rural lifestyle she comes to love and wholly embrace. Painfully aware of not fitting into suburban teen life in her native Maryland, Clara awakens to feeling alive in Mexico and realizes a sweet first love with Pedro, a charming goat herder. Beautifully written, this is filled with evocative language that is rich in imagery and nuance and speaks to the connections that bind us all. Add a thrilling adventure and all the makings of an entrancing read are here. (glossaries) (Fiction. 12-14)
Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2006
ISBN: 0-385-73343-7
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2006
Vail captures the complexity of middle school social challenges, insightfully addressing the issues of friendships and...
Eighth-grader Truly’s foray into popularity spirals into a tempest of deceit and betrayal.
Upon turning 13, Truly is given a measure of technological freedom: a cellphone and access to social media. But this soon evolves into a quagmire of problems for Truly. When former BFF Natasha invites her to join the Popular Table during lunchtime and to collaborate on a school assignment, Truly is surprised but thrilled. However, Natasha’s overtures hide an ulterior motive. In the pursuit of popularity, Truly neglects her friendship with Hazel, who retaliates by plotting revenge utilizing social media. The Truly/Hazel dynamic is just one component of this interwoven story. Vail explores the motivations and private quandaries of the six characters who narrate the tale, from Jack, the quiet advocate for those excluded, to the socially conscious and manipulative Natasha, who yearns to be the most popular. With keen insight, Vail reveals the internal struggles with uncertainty and self-doubt that can plague young teens regardless of popularity status. Natasha’s schemes and Hazel’s misdeeds lead to a relentless barrage of bullying via social media for Truly. While a dramatic moment reveals the extent of Truly’s anguish, Vail concludes the tale with a resolution that is both realistic and hopeful.
Vail captures the complexity of middle school social challenges, insightfully addressing the issues of friendships and integrity. (Fiction. 12-15)Pub Date: Sept. 25, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-670-01307-4
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2014
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