The plot’s flawed, but it’s executed by characters readers can believe in and care about.
Two teens on opposite coasts who’ve bonded closely in an anonymous online therapy group for trauma victims embark with companions on cross-country road trips to meet in Austin, Texas.
In Maryland, when Frances discovers her mother has died after spending years in a nearby mental hospital, the white teen’s custodial grandparents admit they’d withheld the truth, including letters to Frances from her mother insisting Frances’ father is a movie star. In Los Angeles, biracial Indian-American Louis feels responsible for the childhood accident that cost his twin sister, Willa, her legs. Willa’s trauma’s mainly physical; Louis’ manifests in insomnia and panic attacks. He’s also a tennis wunderkind and has been offered free admission to the University of Texas. Soon Frances is driving to Austin, home to her purported father, with her cousin Arrow, adopted from Vietnam, in tow. Louis and Willa drive east to tour the university and meet Frances. For years, random items in Frances’ and Louis’ possession have inexplicably vanished, including the letters from Frances’ mom and Louis’ tennis racket. Traveling, each finds missing items the other had lost. The quirky, occasionally clunky plot mostly hums along, guided by the author’s light narrative hand. Willa and Louis, whose disabilities are never trivialized, are especially well-drawn, lending gravitas where needed, but the superfluous fantastical elements fail to earn suspension of disbelief.
The plot’s flawed, but it’s executed by characters readers can believe in and care about. (Magical realism. 13-16)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-223120-8
Page Count: 352
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: April 12, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2016
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
Despite the well-meaning warmth, a wearying plod.
Can a 17-year-old with her first girlfriend prevent real-life folks from discovering her online fandoms?
Cass is proudly queer, happily fat, and extremely secretive about being a fan who role-plays on Discord. Back in middle school, she had what she calls a gaming addiction, playing “The Sims” so much her parents had to take the game away. Now, turning to her role-play friends to cope with her fighting parents, she worries that people will judge her for her fannishness and online life. To be fair, her grades are suffering. And sure, maybe she’s missed a college application deadline. Also, her mom has suddenly left Minneapolis and moved to Maine to be with a man she met online. But on the other hand, Cass is finally dating her amazingly cute longtime crush, Taylor. Pansexual Taylor is a gamer, a little bit punk, White like Cass, and so, so great—but she still can’t help comparing her to Rowan, Cass’ online best friend and role-playing ship partner. But Rowan doesn’t want to be a dirty little secret and doesn’t see why Cass can’t be honest about this part of her life. The inevitable train wreck of her lies looms on the horizon for months in an overlong morality play building to the climax that includes tidy resolutions to all the character arcs that are quite heartwarming but, in the case of Cass’ estranged mother, narratively unearned.
Despite the well-meaning warmth, a wearying plod. (Fiction. 13-16)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-06-324332-3
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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