Intense, emotionally charged realism for reluctant readers.
A tornado mows through an Oklahoma town, causing a local teen to contemplate life’s big questions.
Philip’s been spending the summer helping a neighbor stock his storm cellar and secretly giving half his earnings to his brother, Victor, who was evicted from the family home. Philip chooses to believe Victor’s lies, pretending the money’s not feeding his brother’s heroin addiction, a result of opioid dependence following a sports injury. He internally questions his Baptist youth-pastor parents’ sincerity—Mom prays “like she’s put makeup / on her voice.” When a storm comes, the family shelters in their basement, ultimately remaining safe, although their house sustains serious damage. A couple of nights later, Victor comes home “like the prodigal son,” forced into withdrawal by the destruction of his drug stash in the tornado. He decides to detox cold turkey with his family’s support, a realistically messy, roller-coaster affair. During the cleanup following the natural disaster, 16-year-old Philip meets Catholic Mariana, who genuinely believes life has meaning. Philip and his family are presumed white except for his sister who has Down syndrome and was adopted from South Korea; Mariana is cued as Latinx. The short stanzas make the text accessible, while the topics addressed are deep and complex. Philip’s voice feels authentic to the teen experience, alternately conflicted, profound, and critical.
Intense, emotionally charged realism for reluctant readers. (Verse novel. 13-16)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5383-8272-1
Page Count: 200
Publisher: West 44 Books
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2019
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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