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THE COMPLEX ART OF BEING MAISIE CLARK

A well-realized coming-of-age story that celebrates art and the journey to accepting yourself.

Maisie Clark is entering her first year at London College of Art with a plan: step out of her comfort zone and discover her artistic voice—or quit art altogether.

Back home in upstate New York, Maisie painted portraits at her parents’ shop, and she’s become so good at seamlessly imitating her father’s style that their work can be indistinguishable. Determined to break free and express herself, she decides to experiment with new media, make friends, and reinvent her look in London. But Maisie’s plans quickly hit some snags—she hates her classes and struggles to connect with people. Things take an introspective turn when she partners with photography classmate Eli on a project that challenges her perspectives on herself and her family. When her parents’ portrait shop is vandalized, Maisie must confront a painful chapter in her family’s past and in her relationship with her older brother. Her slow-burn romantic relationship with Eli unfolds with authentic highs and lows. Both teens are white, and Eli is trans; this aspect of his identity is subtly woven into his characterization, offering insight into how his past has shaped his present. Maisie is funny, awkward, and occasionally overbearing. Her inner voice captures the confused, unfiltered thoughts of a teenager—full of self-doubt, sarcasm, and bursts of confidence—in this thoughtful, character-driven story of growth.

A well-realized coming-of-age story that celebrates art and the journey to accepting yourself. (Fiction. 14-18)

Pub Date: June 10, 2025

ISBN: 9781631639203

Page Count: 288

Publisher: Flux

Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025

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INDIVISIBLE

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

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THE SURVIVOR WANTS TO DIE AT THE END

Raw, delicate, and deeply caring.

When Death-Cast doesn’t call, fate intertwines the lives of two boys, both haunted by their pasts and with futures they can’t escape.

In this third installment of the series that opened with 2017’s They Both Die at the End, Paz Dario waits every night for Death-Cast to call—as it should have for his father nearly 10 years ago, when Paz shot him to save his mother’s life. But the call never comes. Death-Cast killed Paz’s dreams of an acting career: No one will hire him now because the world sees him as a villain. When Paz tries (not for the first time) to put an end to his suffering, an unexpected encounter with Alano Rosa, the heir of Death-Cast, stops him. Both in a place of desperation, Alano and Paz sign a contract to live for Begin Days instead of waiting for their End Days. As suspenseful and emotionally wrenching as the previous titles in the series, this new installment explores heavy themes of abuse, mental health, self-harm, and suicide. Paz grapples with a recent diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Silvera surrounds Alano and Paz with a web of complex relationships. Although the protagonists fall fast for one another and form a deep connection over Alano’s desire to support Paz, Silvera emphasizes the importance of professional help. Both Alano and Paz have Puerto Rican heritage. The cliffhanger ending promises more to come.

Raw, delicate, and deeply caring. (content warning, resources) (Speculative fiction. 14-18)

Pub Date: May 6, 2025

ISBN: 9780063240858

Page Count: 720

Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025

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