As WW II rages overseas, domestic battles keep a Washington family simmering in this vigorously told, unconventionally cast story. In the ten years since the fire that killed their father and baby sister, twins Theadora (Teddy) and Howie, 14, have been estranged from their Grandma Rose—but are now stationed with her for the summer while Dee Dee, their bubbleheaded, fashion-conscious mother, goes in search of a man. At once bitterly quarrelsome and deeply devoted to each other, the siblings have sworn a deep oath- -``Honor Bright''—not to talk about the accident, which Howie unknowingly started, and for which Teddy, to protect him, has always taken the blame. Platt builds the major characters and the plot on first impressions that intentionally mislead: Rose, despite a Dee Deelike first appearance, is really a crusty, loving sort; only gradually is the huge heart beneath Teddy's profane, defiant exterior revealed; and Dee Dee's new husband, met and married in a single month, is not at all as slow and stupid as he seems. In a rousing climax, Teddy and a new friend, Steve, race floodwaters to finish a dam; Teddy sees Rose and Dee Dee leave the scene arm in arm: ``It wasn't peace in Europe. It wasn't peace in the Pacific. But it was a start.'' Although sometimes disturbing and overdone, the frequent ugly spats, profanity, and heavy teen drinking are startling but effective ways of getting beneath each character's surface. A tour de force with a tough, unforgettable protagonist. (Fiction. 12-15)
Pub Date: April 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-385-32216-X
Page Count: 229
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1997
When Clara Luna, 14, visits rural Mexico for the summer to visit the paternal grandparents she has never met, she cannot know her trip will involve an emotional and spiritual journey into her family’s past and a deep connection to a rich heritage of which she was barely aware. Long estranged from his parents, Clara’s father had entered the U.S. illegally years before, subsequently becoming a successful business owner who never spoke about what he left behind. Clara’s journey into her grandmother’s history (told in alternating chapters with Clara’s own first-person narrative) and her discovery that she, like her grandmother and ancestors, has a gift for healing, awakens her to the simple, mystical joys of a rural lifestyle she comes to love and wholly embrace. Painfully aware of not fitting into suburban teen life in her native Maryland, Clara awakens to feeling alive in Mexico and realizes a sweet first love with Pedro, a charming goat herder. Beautifully written, this is filled with evocative language that is rich in imagery and nuance and speaks to the connections that bind us all. Add a thrilling adventure and all the makings of an entrancing read are here. (glossaries) (Fiction. 12-14)
Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2006
ISBN: 0-385-73343-7
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2006
A somewhat entertaining, fast-paced journey that fizzles at the end.
A teenager runs away to Seattle, hoping to locate her missing sister.
Fifteen-year-old Eleanor idolizes her older sister, Sam, despite their being complete opposites: Sam is outgoing and wild, while socially awkward Eleanor is known as Little Miss Perfect, always doing the right and safe thing. After Sam runs away from home, the only communication she has with Eleanor are three postcards sent from Seattle. Eleanor decides to trace her 18-year-old sister’s footsteps, leaving her messages and hopping on a bus to find her. But when Sam doesn’t meet her at the bus depot, Eleanor, who has no real plan, has to learn how to survive on her own while searching the city for her sister. While the close bond between the girls is well depicted through flashbacks, the reveal of an important secret ultimately feels anticlimactic. A major plot point relies too heavily on chance and coincidence to be fully believable. While the color scheme, cityscapes, and background illustrations are atmospheric, the manga-inspired drawing style comes across as dated and flat. The depiction of the fabricated stories Eleanor tells is intriguing, as are the themes of friendship, living in the moment, and maintaining hope; unfortunately, none are thematically strong enough to resonate. The emotional impact of Eleanor’s experiences is diluted by her at times humorous narration. Eleanor and the main cast read as White.
A somewhat entertaining, fast-paced journey that fizzles at the end. (Graphic novel. 12-15)Pub Date: April 26, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-50023-4
Page Count: 280
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: April 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2022
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