Entertaining, vivid, and sympathetic.
Residents of Helen’s Hope, a Belfast girls’ hostel, attempt to find unity in a divided Ireland of 1921.
Fifteen-year-old Polly is both horrified and envious at the news that Catherine, her sweet, befuddled 16-year-old cousin, is being sent to attend a commercial college in Belfast, ostensibly to learn shorthand but mostly to keep her away from her sweetheart, who’s rumored to be fighting for Irish independence. Leo, Polly’s older brother, came home emotionally damaged from fighting England’s side in the Great War, bringing with him the flu that killed their mother. When tensions between the siblings escalate to the point of violence, Polly runs away to Catherine’s side, where she finds companionship and purpose at Helen’s Hope, a community of young women fostering “tolerance and acceptance”—ideals that threaten the neighborhood’s sense of propriety. Polly is impetuous and resourceful, Catherine finds her footing, and the characters, era, and historical setting come to life effortlessly. The complicated political situation is a large part of these characters’ lives and is treated as such but doesn’t bog down the narrative. Polly has a “pash” on fellow hostel resident Stella and eventually realizes girls really might fall in love with other girls. Characters from Wilkinson’s previous novels appear, but this work stands alone.
Entertaining, vivid, and sympathetic. (historical note) (Historical fiction. 10-16)Pub Date: May 9, 2023
ISBN: 9781912417421
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Little Island
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
Riveting, inspiring, and sometimes hilarious.
If you made a recording to be heard by the aliens who found the iPod, what would you record?
For 11-year-old Alex Petroski, it's easy. He records everything. He records the story of how he travels to New Mexico to a rocket festival with his dog, Carl Sagan, and his rocket. He records finding out that a man with the same name and birthday as his dead father has an address in Las Vegas. He records eating at Johnny Rockets for the first time with his new friends, who are giving him a ride to find his dead father (who might not be dead!), and losing Carl Sagan in the wilds of Las Vegas, and discovering he has a half sister. He even records his own awful accident. Cheng delivers a sweet, soulful debut novel with a brilliant, refreshing structure. His characters manage to come alive through the “transcript” of Alex’s iPod recording, an odd medium that sounds like it would be confusing but really works. Taking inspiration from the Voyager Golden Record released to space in 1977, Alex, who explains he has “light brown skin,” records all the important moments of a journey that takes him from a family of two to a family of plenty.
Riveting, inspiring, and sometimes hilarious. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-399-18637-0
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
Guaranteed to enchant, enthrall, and enmagick.
An elderly witch, a magical girl, a brave carpenter, a wise monster, a tiny dragon, paper birds, and a madwoman converge to thwart a magician who feeds on sorrow.
Every year Elders of the Protectorate leave a baby in the forest, warning everyone an evil Witch demands this sacrifice. In reality, every year, a kind witch named Xan rescues the babies and find families for them. One year Xan saves a baby girl with a crescent birthmark who accidentally feeds on moonlight and becomes “enmagicked.” Magic babies can be tricky, so Xan adopts little Luna herself and lovingly raises her, with help from an ancient swamp monster and a chatty, wee dragon. Luna’s magical powers emerge as her 13th birthday approaches. Meanwhile, Luna’s deranged real mother enters the forest to find her daughter. Simultaneously, a young carpenter from the Protectorate enters the forest to kill the Witch and end the sacrifices. Xan also enters the forest to rescue the next sacrificed child, and Luna, the monster, and the dragon enter the forest to protect Xan. In the dramatic denouement, a volcano erupts, the real villain attempts to destroy all, and love prevails. Replete with traditional motifs, this nontraditional fairy tale boasts sinister and endearing characters, magical elements, strong storytelling, and unleashed forces. Luna has black eyes, curly, black hair, and “amber” skin.
Guaranteed to enchant, enthrall, and enmagick. (Fantasy. 10-14)Pub Date: Aug. 9, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-61620-567-6
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Algonquin
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
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