A harrowing and ultimately uplifting tale of self-discovery, surviving emotional abuse, and coming of age in a complex world.
In this award-winning Australian import, a 17-year-old from a repressive family enters high school and starts to see that her father might be more than just “strict.”
Astrid desperately longs for “a normal life.” But her father, claiming that capitalism undermines the family unit, bans processed foods and doesn’t allow Astrid and her mother to have mobile phones. Astrid was home-schooled by her mom in their pristine, supposedly idyllic home, but when her father’s unemployment leads to her mom’s going out to work, Astrid enters high school and gets a thrilling taste of teenage life. Her new friend Cathy encourages her to share her musical talents, and her crush, Leila, helps Astrid recognize her own queerness. But Astrid’s escalating integration into the outside world can’t remain secret from her dad, whom she comes to see is abusive. Now Astrid must decide how to escape. In her debut, Crawford handles sensitive issues deftly, capturing Astrid’s delicate balance between self-awareness and naïveté, although her nonbinary brother, Nick, provides some clunky explanations of LGBTQ+ issues. Astrid’s constant anxiety and self-scrutiny often make for a palpably distressing read, leavened by the moments of teen giddiness that shine through. Up-to-the-minute social media and cultural references paired with witty, believable teen dialogue make the setting feel current and lived in. Astrid’s family presents white, and the supporting cast is ethnically diverse.
A harrowing and ultimately uplifting tale of self-discovery, surviving emotional abuse, and coming of age in a complex world. (resources) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
ISBN: 9781761602566
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
PERSPECTIVES
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
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