An entertaining teen romance that bakes in a story of self-discovery.
A teenager’s usual confidence wavers when she’s unexpectedly chosen for the homecoming court in this YA romance.
High school senior Ariel Duncan, a talented baker with a curvy silhouette, generally goes by Cupcake. Her baking (and rom-com movie) vlog has some 12,000 followers—not bad for small-town Honeycomb, Georgia. She’s not into football culture, so she is astonished to be nominated for the homecoming court. As she puts it to herself, “I love my body, but I’ll never fit the mold of what society thinks a princess should be.” Her prince partner is Rhys Castle, the school’s muscular, square-jawed “golden boy quarterback.” Strangely, when he’s given the opportunity to switch partners, he refuses. Though Rhys tends to be grimly uncommunicative, he can seem friendly, even flirty, keeping Cupcake off balance. One reason she loves baking is the control it gives her: “If you followed a recipe to the letter, you were ensured a great result.” But there’s no recipe for a relationship with Rhys, causing Cupcake’s steadfast self-esteem to falter when she finds herself falling for him. As homecoming approaches, Cupcake discovers new depths in Rhys, faces her self-doubts, and is challenged to bravely claim her inner princess. In her latest YA romance, O’Gorman treads some familiar ground with her slightly overweight hero and the will-she-get-the-guy plot. On the other hand, Cupcake doesn’t have (or need) a makeover scene, and given a judgmental culture, her doubts have some merit. As a little girl comments, there are no fat Disney princesses. The romance is appealing, tying in well with Rhys’ character development, and amusing scenarios enhance the story. Rom-com fans will especially appreciate how the ending cleverly amasses genre tropes when Cupcake makes an over-the-top public proclamation of her feelings.
An entertaining teen romance that bakes in a story of self-discovery.Pub Date: Nov. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-64937-032-7
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship.
Shortly before the new queen’s coronation, a monster wreaks havoc, forcing a young fairy princess to intervene at her own risk.
In Pixie Hollow, the Never Fairies of Spring, Summer, and Autumn work to create seasons for the humans on the Mainland, while the fairies of Winter remain apart in the Winter Woods. Clarion, a governing-talent fairy who’s soon to take over as queen of Pixie Hollow, often looks wonderingly at the Winter Woods. But crossing the border is against the rules set forth by her mentor, Queen Elvina. When a monster from Winter breaks free and enters Spring, Clarion bristles at Elvina’s dismissal. Determined to be involved, she secretly travels to Winter, meets with Milori, the Warden of the Winter Woods, and learns that the land is nothing like what she’s heard, making her wonder what else the queen has been untruthful about. Together Milori and Clarion work to discover the secrets of Pixie Hollow, which may save them—or lead to death. Set in a magical place of flowers and pixie dust, this story considers the control we have over the roles we’re assigned. Clarion is a beautifully complex character—strong yet insecure, lovable due to her willingness to prioritize relationships over rules. Themes of fear, forbidden love, and good vs. evil are present in this fast-paced, engaging tale. Main characters are cued white.
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781368098458
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Disney Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
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
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