Those who appreciate character-driven stories will enjoy the feeling of watching history in action.
Readers follow Edie Murphy from the age of 14 in rural Newfoundland, Canada, as she moves to New York City, where she witnesses the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911.
Edie’s first-person perspective paints a picture of life in her small hometown as the eldest daughter in a large, poor family. She jumps at the opportunity of a domestic position in a wealthy St. John's home but later moves to New York City, working at the Global Shirtwaist Company. There she befriends girls who speak Yiddish, Italian, and other languages—some of whom express themselves in distractingly broken English. The young women begin attending secret union meetings, joining the historic 1909 Uprising of the 20,000 to demand better working conditions. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911 changes everything, and Edie wrestles with the decision of whether to return home. The book touches on the oppressive sweatshop conditions, police brutality, and entrenched socio-economic divisions, evoking sympathy for the young women’s cause. Information about the garment industry unions, agitation by Jewish workers, and the work of activist Clara Lemlich adds depth and interest. Patient readers will be rewarded as they learn about details of daily life, fashion, and the technology of the time. All characters are presumed white.
Those who appreciate character-driven stories will enjoy the feeling of watching history in action. (Historical fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-927917-17-6
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Running the Goat
Review Posted Online: Jan. 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Despite some missteps, this will appeal to readers who enjoy a fresh and realistic teen voice.
A teenage, not-so-lonely loner endures the wilds of high school in Austin, Texas.
Norris Kaplan, the protagonist of Philippe’s debut novel, is a hypersweaty, uber-snarky black, Haitian, French-Canadian pushing to survive life in his new school. His professor mom’s new tenure-track job transplants Norris mid–school year, and his biting wit and sarcasm are exposed through his cataloging of his new world in a field guide–style burn book. He’s greeted in his new life by an assortment of acquaintances, Liam, who is white and struggling with depression; Maddie, a self-sacrificing white cheerleader with a heart of gold; and Aarti, his Indian-American love interest who offers connection. Norris’ ego, fueled by his insecurities, often gets in the way of meaningful character development. The scenes showcasing his emotional growth are too brief and, despite foreshadowing, the climax falls flat because he still gets incredible personal access to people he’s hurt. A scene where Norris is confronted by his mother for getting drunk and belligerent with a white cop is diluted by his refusal or inability to grasp the severity of the situation and the resultant minor consequences. The humor is spot-on, as is the representation of the black diaspora; the opportunity for broader conversations about other topics is there, however, the uneven buildup of detailed, meaningful exchanges and the glibness of Norris’ voice detract.
Despite some missteps, this will appeal to readers who enjoy a fresh and realistic teen voice. (Fiction. 13-16)Pub Date: Jan. 8, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-06-282411-0
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Oct. 14, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
Bound to be popular.
A suddenly trendy trope—conflict and romance between members of conquering and enslaved races—enlivened by fantasy elements loosely drawn from Arabic tradition (another trend!).
In an original, well-constructed fantasy world (barring some lazy naming), the Scholars have lived under Martial rule for 500 years, downtrodden and in many cases enslaved. Scholar Laia has spent a lifetime hiding her connection to the Resistance—her parents were its leaders—but when her grandparents are killed and her brother’s captured by Masks, the eerie, silver-faced elite soldiers of the Martial Empire, Laia must go undercover as a slave to the terrifying Commandant of Blackcliff Military Academy, where Martials are trained for battle. Meanwhile, Elias, the Commandant’s not-at-all-beloved son, wants to run away from Blackcliff, until he is named an Aspirant for the throne by the mysterious red-eyed Augurs. Predictably, action, intrigue, bloodshed and some pounding pulses follow; there’s betrayal and a potential love triangle or two as well. Sometimes-lackluster prose and a slight overreliance on certain kinds of sexual violence as a threat only slightly diminish the appeal created by familiar (but not predictable) characters and a truly engaging if not fully fleshed-out fantasy world.
Bound to be popular. (Fantasy. 13 & up)Pub Date: April 28, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-59514-803-2
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2015
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