An angst-riddled family tale that enlightens and delights.
A wayward American teen struggles to find his place in a foster family in this YA novel.
It seems that high school sophomore Roy Perkins has given up. He doesn’t worry about his grades anymore, to the point of tossing his English book out the classroom window. And why should he care? His dad died in the Army; his mom cooked meth in their trailer before she died; and now he only has Uncle Frank, a drunk who disciplines Roy with a belt. When Frank lands in jail, a social worker takes Roy to live with the Radleys, who are already fostering 5-year-old twin boys. Roy’s behavior and attitude don’t improve, as he gets in a fight at school. But he gradually warms to his foster parents’ tenderheartedness, and it turns out he likes being a big brother to the twins. When Roy’s bad decisions lead to a mistake that puts his foster family in danger, the social worker threatens to take him away. But Roy wants to stay with his new family and will have to prove he’s a responsible teenager. Thompson’s concise, undemanding prose makes reading this short novel a breeze. Piquing interest in reading is the author’s goal. But he still manages to establish scenes and characters with panache. At one point Roy observes: “Wednesday morning. English. I’m still tired from last night. I put my head on my desk. I need to close my eyes for a minute.” Roy is a likable protagonist worthy of sympathy; his initial reluctance to trust the Radleys, in spite of their overwhelming kindness, is understandable. The author sprinkles moral lessons throughout that, while pronounced, are never heavy-handed. Roy, for example, has a crucial choice to make in the final act, and he learns the right thing isn’t always the easiest. This book offers a rewarding story for both YA and older readers.
An angst-riddled family tale that enlightens and delights.Pub Date: June 14, 2021
ISBN: 979-8520314882
Page Count: 113
Publisher: Independently Published
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
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