An amusing coming-of-age tale that nicely blends mischief with growing maturity.
Two Seattle teenagers in 1960 conceive pranks that sometimes backfire in this debut YA novel.
In the last moments of English class before summer vacation begins, 13-year-old Dennis Fishel can barely pay attention to his teacher’s reflections on an Emily Dickinson poem: “Even the smallest things we do in kindness for others can not only help us feel better about ourselves, but make our world a little brighter.” Though Dennis isn’t a bully like Russell Folmer, a neighbor kid and notorious lunch stealer, he doesn’t go out of his way to be kind. When Jay Walters, a boy his age, moves next door, Dennis is more interested in his model-airplane hobby than friendship. But Jay also builds model planes, and the two soon become pals and partners in crime. While Jay’s pranks lead to trouble, he and Dennis often wiggle out by blaming Russell, whom they’re delighted to see punished in their stead. But over time, Dennis learns that appearances aren’t always what they seem—and starts listening to his conscience in a new way. In his tale, author Fishel conjures up one scenario after another of hijinks and schemes that have much anarchic appeal, such as flying a kite armed with dog turds to bomb an enemy. The temptation to follow Jay’s lead is easy to understand. As an only child who’s often at loose ends, Dennis appreciates that “boredom didn’t hang around very long with Jay Walters nearby,” and he gains some courage from his friend. Although the boys do pull off some stunts, the story is balanced with consequences—as when they’re caught in a shoplifting plot and are tricked into performing hours of backbreaking unpaid work. When the resolution arrives, it feels earned, not preachy.
An amusing coming-of-age tale that nicely blends mischief with growing maturity.Pub Date: April 2, 2020
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 306
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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