A Nebraska teen blames herself for unwanted attention that might be sexual assault.
White Rosie, with her pale, Angelina Jolie–like beauty, is used to being leered at by boys and men—and she likes it. Her skewed, immature worldview keeps her from seeing that her best friend, Maddie, back from a summer in Spain, no longer needs her social guidance. Even before junior year, Rosie has hooked up with one guy after another, earning her a reputation for “the famous Rosie Fuller Stopwatch.” At a party with her friends (mostly also white), Rosie floats from the “best part of the night, the just-beginning-to-get-drunk part,” to being too drunk to fully comprehend what’s happening when Cory, a football player who “looks like someone’s Hollywood version of a corn-fed Midwestern boy,” begins to force himself on her, stopping only when Maddie appears. Rosie’s assumption that the near rape was her own fault stems from the self-centeredness she’s developed by being constantly in the spotlight. Through Rosie’s present-tense narration, Maciel examines societal pressures on girls to equate self-worth and looks. The book’s message is delivered in an uneven way, however, depicting the very real perils that young women face in the context of a somewhat dated, superficial version of high school life. What is realistic, though, is the fact that such experiences are rarely wrapped up neatly.
A thought-provoking look at the good-girl/bad-girl dichotomy. (Fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: April 25, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-06-230533-6
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 31, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2017
Categories: TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES
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BOOK REVIEW
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
Categories: TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES
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BOOK REVIEW
Can a 17-year-old with her first girlfriend prevent real-life folks from discovering her online fandoms?
Cass is proudly queer, happily fat, and extremely secretive about being a fan who role-plays on Discord. Back in middle school, she had what she calls a gaming addiction, playing “The Sims” so much her parents had to take the game away. Now, turning to her role-play friends to cope with her fighting parents, she worries that people will judge her for her fannishness and online life. To be fair, her grades are suffering. And sure, maybe she’s missed a college application deadline. Also, her mom has suddenly left Minneapolis and moved to Maine to be with a man she met online. But on the other hand, Cass is finally dating her amazingly cute longtime crush, Taylor. Pansexual Taylor is a gamer, a little bit punk, White like Cass, and so, so great—but she still can’t help comparing her to Rowan, Cass’ online best friend and role-playing ship partner. But Rowan doesn’t want to be a dirty little secret and doesn’t see why Cass can’t be honest about this part of her life. The inevitable train wreck of her lies looms on the horizon for months in an overlong morality play building to the climax that includes tidy resolutions to all the character arcs that are quite heartwarming but, in the case of Cass’ estranged mother, narratively unearned.
Despite the well-meaning warmth, a wearying plod. (Fiction. 13-16)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-06-324332-3
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2022
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