A sparkling, big-hearted tribute to girlhood, ambition, and finding your voice.
A cozy, concert-themed celebration of friendship, first crushes, and fresh starts.
Four middle school friends in Indiana—Taylor “Teffy” Bennett, Taylor “Tay Tay” Johnson, Taylor “TS” Shaw, and Taylor Perez—all named after the famous singer, start high school together in this upbeat, Taylor Swift–inspired novel. Though they differ in personality, from confident gymnast Tay Tay to introverted bookworm Teffy, the Taylors have a strong bond that’s being tested by changing interests, new relationships, and big dreams. The chapters alternate among the girls’ perspectives. Teffy, a white-presenting aspiring songwriter, nurses an unspoken crush on longtime neighbor Liam Yoon. Aspiring class president Taylor, who’s cued Latine, catches the attention of suave senior Hunter Brown, whose intentions are unclear. Cheerleader Tay Tay, who reads Black, juggles friendship and a crush on her biology partner, Reece Matthews. And TS, who presents white, pushes toward her varsity soccer goal while discovering a sweet romantic connection with new teammate Gemma Walker, a Londoner. The tone is bright and energetic, filled with references to albums and fan culture, but the book’s emotional core is its thoughtful attention to shifting friendships and growing self-awareness. The breezy yet sincere prose matches the heartfelt subject matter, and the narrative balances group dynamics with each girl’s individual arc. Readers will find themselves rooting for the Taylors as they navigate the thrills and stumbles of high school life.
A sparkling, big-hearted tribute to girlhood, ambition, and finding your voice. (Fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781546176732
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Heartbreaking, historical, and a little bit hopeful.
January 1945: as Russians advance through East Prussia, four teens’ lives converge in hopes of escape.
Returning to the successful formula of her highly lauded debut, Between Shades of Gray (2011), Sepetys combines research (described in extensive backmatter) with well-crafted fiction to bring to life another little-known story: the sinking (from Soviet torpedoes) of the German ship Wilhelm Gustloff. Told in four alternating voices—Lithuanian nurse Joana, Polish Emilia, Prussian forger Florian, and German soldier Alfred—with often contemporary cadences, this stints on neither history nor fiction. The three sympathetic refugees and their motley companions (especially an orphaned boy and an elderly shoemaker) make it clear that while the Gustloff was a German ship full of German civilians and soldiers during World War II, its sinking was still a tragedy. Only Alfred, stationed on the Gustloff, lacks sympathy; almost a caricature, he is self-delusional, unlikable, a Hitler worshiper. As a vehicle for exposition, however, and a reminder of Germany’s role in the war, he serves an invaluable purpose that almost makes up for the mustache-twirling quality of his petty villainy. The inevitability of the ending (including the loss of several characters) doesn’t change its poignancy, and the short chapters and slowly revealed back stories for each character guarantee the pages keep turning.
Heartbreaking, historical, and a little bit hopeful. (author’s note, research and sources, maps) (Historical fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-399-16030-1
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Nov. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2015
PROFILES
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
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