An engaging, if overstuffed, tale about an artistic teen’s evolution.
In this contemporary YA novel, a teenager discovers who she truly is.
Nicole Summers doesn’t really get along with most people at her Oklahoma high school. Nic, a sophomore, gets bullied in class, and students make comments about her in the hallways. One guy calls her “a big lesbo.” Afterward, Nic muses: “God, I hated this shit. And I didn’t think I was a lesbian, anyway. But everyone acted like I was. How could everyone else know something about me that I didn’t know myself?” She’s lucky if classmates are willing to even acknowledge her existence. But at least Nic has her art and her best friend, Sam, to keep her company. Sam shares her pal’s love of dragons, art, and fantasy figurines, but none of these hobbies make Nic popular. A long time ago, the two hatched a plan called “Operation Social Interaction for Nic.” Frankly, it’s not going well. But when Sam comes to her pal with the terrible news that she’s moving to Scotland, the two are suddenly desperate to find Nic a friend so she won’t be alone at school. Sam makes Nic promise to be more open and affable when they’re in club meetings. But Nic barely feels comfortable in her own skin. How is she supposed to relax around other people? Nic soon realizes she needs to spend more time figuring out exactly who she is before she can identify if there’s anyone at school she can confide in. In Vincent’s intriguing tale, the appealing main character is embarking on an important journey of self-discovery. Nic eventually finds that being like all the other girls isn’t really for her. With short chapters and a steady pace, the novel does a superb job of holding readers’ attention, which is vital for a YA book. But while Nic’s hunt for a new friend is integral to the plot, the abundance of characters introduced throughout the narrative can get a bit overwhelming for readers not paying close attention. Still, the compelling story will resonate with young adults going on their own difficult journeys and should help them feel less alone.
An engaging, if overstuffed, tale about an artistic teen’s evolution.Pub Date: June 7, 2022
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 380
Publisher: KV BOOKS LLC
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told.
The 17-year-old son of a troubled rock star is determined to find his own way in life and love.
On the verge of adulthood, Blade Morrison wants to leave his father’s bad-boy reputation for drug-and-alcohol–induced antics and his sister’s edgy lifestyle behind. The death of his mother 10 years ago left them all without an anchor. Named for the black superhero, Blade shares his family’s connection to music but resents the paparazzi that prevent him from having an open relationship with the girl that he loves. However, there is one secret even Blade is unaware of, and when his sister reveals the truth of his heritage during a bitter fight, Blade is stunned. When he finally gains some measure of equilibrium, he decides to investigate, embarking on a search that will lead him to a small, remote village in Ghana. Along the way, he meets people with a sense of purpose, especially Joy, a young Ghanaian who helps him despite her suspicions of Americans. This rich novel in verse is full of the music that forms its core. In addition to Alexander and co-author Hess’ skilled use of language, references to classic rock songs abound. Secondary characters add texture to the story: does his girlfriend have real feelings for Blade? Is there more to his father than his inability to stay clean and sober? At the center is Blade, fully realized and achingly real in his pain and confusion.
A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told. (Verse fiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-310-76183-9
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Blink
Review Posted Online: April 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2017
PERSPECTIVES
Commendable ambition that may help readers look forward.
Already reeling from loss, a Black high school senior brings her OCD, anxiety, and depression into March 2020.
In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, Gethsemane Montego is a musical-theater–loving, BTS-fangirling, 16-year-old senior at New Rochelle High School. She and her two best friends—Jewish Korean valedictorian Tovah and Cuban American star quarterback Diego—attend the same high school where Geth’s security guard father died tragically three years ago during a shooting. Geth resents how quickly her mother has moved on—with a White man, at that—but, as best they can, her friends help her manage the increases in her anxiety and compulsions as well as her stifling grief. Awaiting admission results from Columbia is an added stressor, but as the coronavirus case numbers quickly shoot up, Geth faces multiple burdens and traumas. Police violence, racial inequity, hyperpartisanship, immigration, economic anxieties, and a complicated coming-out story all pile on top of the pandemic’s hefty body count. Geth is a likable, smart Gen Z protagonist in this modern epistolary work that combines diary entries, text messages, news reports, emails, and English lit essays to immersive effect. Wringing so much content, so much hurt, into a YA novel is a tall order that yields very mixed results. Still, whether through cutting humor or disparate political perspectives, Farley offers readers undeniable value in this retelling of recent, unforgettable history.
Commendable ambition that may help readers look forward. (Fiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-61775-975-8
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Black Sheep Press
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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