A brilliantly conceived page-turner.
In a Bronx neighborhood of the near future, it’s no secret that at least one person has taken advantage of the Leteo Institute’s new medical procedure that promises “cutting-edge memory-relief.”
Reeling from his discovery of his father in a blood-filled bathtub, there are lots of things that Aaron Soto would like to forget—the smile-shaped scar on his own wrist attests to that. Puerto Rican Aaron meets a boy named Thomas from a neighboring (and sometimes rival) project who shares his love of comic books and fantasy fiction. The two develop a friendship that makes Aaron wonder if he’s a “dude-liker,” leading to a breakup with his girlfriend. When Thomas doesn’t reciprocate, Aaron considers the Leteo procedure for himself. This novel places a straightforward concept—what if you could erase unwanted memories?—squarely within an honest depiction of the pains of navigating the teen years and upends all expectations for a plot resolution. Debut author Silvera has an ear for dialogue and authentic voices. He scatters references to his characters’ various ethnicities in an unforced manner—of a midnight showing of a movie based on their favorite fantasy series, Thomas says “I was the only brown Scorpius Hawthorne.” Thomas is the foil to Aaron’s conviction that there’s an easy way out in a multifaceted look at some of the more unsettling aspects of human relationships.
A brilliantly conceived page-turner. (Speculative fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: June 16, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-61695-560-1
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Soho Teen
Review Posted Online: March 31, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PROFILES
SEEN & HEARD
A mare’s nest plot-wise, but the intriguing setting and characters make it worth untangling.
In this second series entry, shape-shifting tiger sisters and their escorts undertake tests and quests in a magic land infused with Russian folklore.
Because the six principal characters are scattered at the beginning—and proceed in several directions in changing combinations—this sequel to Tiger’s Tale (2024) tends to sprawl. But whether readers prefer their folkloric adventures to be melodramatic, romantic, comical, or mystical in tone, Houck endeavors to provide something to satisfy them. She also assiduously mines her Slavic sources of inspiration, stirring tricksy bargains and helpful gifts (like magic boots) into encounters with powerful figures from Morozko (Father Frost) and Baba Yaga (here called “Baba Yuga”) to a mischievous likho, or spirit of misfortune. The young travelers are exposed to generous doses of life wisdom, opportunities to heal old wounds or learn from experiences, and (for some, at least) steamy romantic awakenings. Houck imparts many lessons, but she laces the narrative with Russian words, often slang (“Gaw! Boy’s near froze off his yaytsa!”), and modern-sounding expressions (“That’s just weird,” “Well, cry me a river, son”) that both enrich and lighten the atmosphere. Contests with foes, like the troll-like vodnik and a child-murdering ghost, provide thrills. Aside from an Indian mage from Houck’s Tiger’s Curse series putting in a guest appearance, the cast reads white.
A mare’s nest plot-wise, but the intriguing setting and characters make it worth untangling. (Fantasy. 13-16)Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2025
ISBN: 9798212221733
Page Count: 350
Publisher: Blackstone
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2025
An exciting adventure.
On the brink of dystopia, a girl and a mechanical dragon help defend democracy in an alternate future Washington, D.C.
Sassy prep schooler Prudence Wu smuggles banned media into Incorporated territory in order to supplement her meager scholarship. Though there are warnings of wyverns, war machines used during the Partition Wars, Pru cons her way past Barricade walls during a job and ends up on the run. A chance encounter with a frightening beast leads to her waking in her dorm with a blacked-out memory and a dragon mech imprinted on her mind. In anime-like fashion, with the help of her well-connected best friend and highly placed allies, Pru reluctantly agrees to pilot the dragon Rebelwing. The author deftly flies between levity and heartbreak, cracking jokes and inserting astute historical and political commentary into a setting where survivors of wars past struggle with fears for the future. Interludes featuring student chat boards and newsfeeds offer a fuller picture of events, however sometimes they are jarring, especially when they appear in the middle of action scenes. This will appeal to fans of mecha anime; young, fumbling romance; and stories about superintelligent teens trying the save the world. Prudence is ethnically Chinese, and the diverse supporting cast includes Korean, Latinx, and queer characters.
An exciting adventure. (Science fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9848-3509-3
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2019
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