A poignant mystery exploring coming-of-age themes.
A girl’s death leaves her family reeling with grief.
D.J. Rosenblum and her queer single mom (D.J. was conceived via sperm donor) are leaving Indianapolis to move to Briar, Ohio, to live with the Simons: D.J.’s aunt Judy, uncle Jay, and younger cousin, Davey. Fourteen-year-old D.J. used to have an older cousin, Rachel, but she died last year, apparently by suicide. However, D.J. is convinced Rachel was murdered—and she’s determined to find the killer. She’s also supposed to be studying for her upcoming bat mitzvah, postponed due to Rachel’s death. D.J. attempts to balance d’var Torah meetings with Rabbi Flores, Torah chant tutoring with the adorable Jonah Chen, the stresses of middle school, and her ongoing investigation. She makes two friends at her new school who become fellow sleuths—newspaper buddy Char Kumar and gorgeous queen bee Tori Taylor. In this blend of mystery and middle school drama, D.J.’s life is thrown into chaos as she desperately hunts for clues, in the process alienating people and sinking into depression. While a school newspaper subplot is thinly developed, the engaging, emotionally moving narrative deftly highlights the different ways people navigate the grieving process. The work is steeped in Jewish lifecycle traditions, but readers of all backgrounds will easily identify with the exploration of middle school stresses and friend and family relationships. The core Jewish values of life, learning, and family are well represented and accessible to all readers.
A poignant mystery exploring coming-of-age themes. (author’s note, resources) (Mystery. 12-16)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9781646145652
Page Count: 344
Publisher: Levine Querido
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
PERSPECTIVES
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
A winning blend of touching moments, memorable characters and situational humor takes readers to a surprising revelation at...
A teenager disappears and leaves behind a quirky to-do list for her best friend.
It’s the beginning of summer, and Emily is disconsolate; her best friend, Sloane, is nowhere to be found. But she’s disappeared before; her parents would occasionally steal Sloane away for a few days, and she would return tanned and with travel tales to tell. Without Sloane, reticent Emily feels like she’s lost her spiritual and social tether. Finally, two weeks later, Sloane sends Emily a to-do list in the mail—but without a return address. The list includes daring, funny, incongruous items like “Hug a Jamie,” “Steal something,” and “Go skinny-dipping,” and with the completion of each task, Emily is coaxed farther out of her shell. She recounts the navigation of the deep, unfamiliar waters of self-discovery in a grave, meticulous past tense. As she’s on her way to complete the first item, she befriends Frank Porter—a handsome, kind and accomplished fellow student. Emily shares the list with him, and as Frank helps Emily cross off each item, their friendship deepens. Soon, Emily’s having to remind herself that Frank has a serious girlfriend out of state, and anyway, they are just friends, right? Interspersed flashbacks provide revealing background into Sloane and Emily’s friendship.
A winning blend of touching moments, memorable characters and situational humor takes readers to a surprising revelation at the story’s end. (Fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: May 6, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-3500-1
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
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