Delightful in the moment if ultimately unmemorable.
Boy meets girl leads to a summer of first love in Durango and Terrones’ debut as co-authors.
Moving from bustling Chicago to quiet Buffalo Falls, Illinois, doesn’t exactly thrill 16-year-old Zeus. Summer turns out no better when his mother enlists him as a delivery boy for her struggling cafe. Now, the “proud Mexiwegian” (half Mexican, half Norwegian—Zeus is short for Jésus) teen is stuck pedaling through the sticky heat with his World War II–obsessed kid brother in tow. One fateful delivery sends him to the Hilltop Nursing Home, where he spots Rose, a Filipina piano prodigy whose mother is a nurse there. The pair soon hit it off, but inevitably, a complication arises: Rose may leave Buffalo Falls for music school in New York at the end of the summer. Durango and Terrones set up Zeus and Rose’s relationship in broad strokes, relying heavily on that familiar summer-romance trope—and Zeus’ often funny narration—to add some initial urgency. Alarmed by the limit on their time together, Zeus plans to make Rose’s summer an unforgettable one, with trips to a polka festival, a psychic, and the Chicago Art Institute. Meanwhile, he volunteers at the nursing home, getting chummy with some of its residents, starts a band, and receives questionable dating advice from a new friend. A late revelation attempts to raise both the stakes and some half-baked family drama, but the story nonetheless continues its dutiful march to an uplifting finale.
Delightful in the moment if ultimately unmemorable. (Romance. 13-17)Pub Date: Dec. 19, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-06-231403-1
Page Count: 304
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: Sept. 17, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2017
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
Full of drama, emotional turmoil, and high stakes.
What happens to the world after the dust from a revolution has settled?
Friends Annie and Lee were children from very different circles when Atreus killed Lee’s father, dragonlord Leon Stormscourge, ending the uprising on the bloodiest day in Callipolis’ history. For too long the dragonriders held all the power while their people starved and lived in fear. Nine years later, a new generation of dragonriders is emerging, children selected and trained on merit, not bloodlines. Their dragons are finally mature enough for them to compete for Firstrider, a position of power that can give Lee back a small part of what his family lost. However, not only is Lee competing against Annie, but rumors are circulating that some of the royal family have survived and have dragons of their own. Everyone will have to make a choice: Restore the old regime, support the First Protector and the new caste system he created, or look for a new way, no matter what the cost. From the beginning, this book pulls readers in with political intrigue and action. What keeps them invested, however, are the complex relationships between many cast members. Choices are complex, and the consequences for all could be deadly. The world is well fleshed out and believable. Annie and Lee are light skinned; secondary characters are diverse, and race is a nonissue in this world.
Full of drama, emotional turmoil, and high stakes. (author’s note) (Fantasy.14-17)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-525-51821-1
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
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