A fun summer read about honesty and making mistakes.
A determined 17-year-old has an explosive summer.
Josie Saint-Martin isn’t happy thanks to the facts that she’s never lived in one location long enough to make connections; her single, 36-year-old bookstore manager mom isn’t capable of responsible parenting or communication; and her fashion photographer father, whom she doesn’t really know, won’t take her on as an apprentice until she proves her worth. Josie has a plan for her future, and the last thing she needs is to test the infamous Saint-Martin love curse with former childhood bestie Lucky Karras, who’s now the hot bad boy in Beauty, their gossipy hometown where they’ve returned to live. Her cousin Evie drags her to a party celebrating the start of summer and hosted by Evie’s ex-boyfriend, a descendent of the town’s founder, who spreads vicious rumors about Josie. In a fit of rage, Josie commits a regrettable action, landing her and Lucky in a holding cell—with Lucky taking the fall. As summer progresses, Josie uncovers long-buried family secrets, learns why Lucky lied to the police, and falls in love. Bennett’s detailed descriptions add to the lore of Josie’s small, historic New England harbor town, giving readers a crystal-clear sense of the setting. The brisk pace and Josie’s realistic, inviting voice will make readers want to dive into the story and love these flawed characters. Josie and Lucky are white; Evie’s late father was black.
A fun summer read about honesty and making mistakes. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 10, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5344-2517-0
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
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
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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