A haunting and honest depiction of adversity and triumph that reveals America’s continuing struggle to give equal...
America’s systemic race and class problems are viscerally rendered in this evocative account of a black teenage girl’s coming-of-age in a novel for reluctant readers.
Shanequa’s life is one of constant heartbreaking struggle. Her father is in jail for second-degree murder, and her mother, depressed by the loss of her husband, succumbs to drugs and abandons her children, leaving Shanequa and her younger sister, LaKecia, to be raised by their grandmother. Yearning for a better life, Shanequa works her way into the prestigious Bidwell Academy for Girls, where she must strive to move forward while dealing with the ghosts from her past. Told in a series of short narrative poems, Shanequa’s struggles, dreams, and fears come alive on the page as she grapples with shame at being poor in a rich world and the indignities of being black and exoticized in a predominantly white educational environment. Taylor (Street Pharmacist, 2016, etc.) nicely employs the story’s framework to turn the protagonist into a shrewdly observational character with a unique voice by giving the readers small glimpses into her thoughts. Descriptions of the two sisters reveal that the darker-skinned Shanequa feels ugly in comparison to her lighter sibling, and casual discussion of various students’ cellphones underscores the class disparities at her school.
A haunting and honest depiction of adversity and triumph that reveals America’s continuing struggle to give equal opportunities to all. (Verse novel. 15-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5383-8248-6
Page Count: 202
Publisher: West 44 Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
Only marginally intriguing.
In a remote part of Utah, in a “temple of excellence,” the best of the best are recruited to nurture their talents.
Redemption Preparatory is a cross between the Vatican and a top-secret research facility: The school is rooted in Christian ideology (but very few students are Christian), Mass is compulsory, cameras capture everything, and “maintenance” workers carry Tasers. When talented poet Emma disappears, three students, distrusting of the school administration, launch their own investigation. Brilliant chemist Neesha believes Emma has run away to avoid taking the heat for the duo’s illegal drug enterprise. Her boyfriend, an athlete called Aiden, naturally wants to find her. Evan, a chess prodigy who relies on patterns and has difficulty processing social signals, believes he knows Emma better than anyone. While the school is an insidious character on its own and the big reveal is slightly psychologically disturbing, Evan’s positioning as a tragic hero with an uncertain fate—which is connected to his stalking of Emma (even before her disappearance)—is far more unsettling. The ’90s setting provides the backdrop for tongue-in-cheek technological references but doesn’t do anything for the plot. Student testimonials and voice-to-text transcripts punctuate the three-way third-person narration that alternates among Neesha, Evan, and Aiden. Emma, Aiden, and Evan are assumed to be white; Neesha is Indian. Students are from all over the world, including Asia and the Middle East.
Only marginally intriguing. (Mystery. 15-18)Pub Date: April 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-06-266203-3
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet enemies-to-lovers romance with a healthy dose of empowerment.
New college student Blair had everything figured out, but the old friends she was supposed to share a house with tell her at the last minute that she can’t live with them after all.
A week before she enters Central Florida State University, Blair needs to find cheap housing. Her parents will never let her live off-campus with strangers, and if she’s forced into the dorms, she won’t be able to afford the sculpting class taught by her idol at a nearby studio. Desperate, she takes the only option she can find, forging her stepdad’s signature on the lease. But to her horror, she discovers that Jamie Atwater, her antagonistic older brother Sawyer’s best friend, is one of her new roommates. When Jamie threatens to reveal her secret, Blair strikes a deal: She’ll help Jamie with his coding project, and he won’t tell her brother where she’s living. But the more time Blair spends with Jamie, the more she unravels his mysteries and realizes that he sees her as more than his friend’s sister. Equal parts funny, emotionally charged, and heartwarming, this is a feel-good story about finding your inner strength and pursuing your passions that’s well-paced and strongly characterized. The cast members’ endearing bonds liven the world and enhance the story’s relatability. The leads are cued white, and the supporting cast is broadly diverse. Blair deals with anxiety but is confident in her fat body.
A sweet enemies-to-lovers romance with a healthy dose of empowerment. (Romance. 15-18)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
ISBN: 9781665973076
Page Count: 352
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
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