An absorbing read.
A teenager and his intellectually disabled older brother rescue an injured dog and a young badger from a trio of vicious bullies in this first of four interconnected episodes.
In this wrenching, accessibly written tale, their father’s inability to stay employed or sober in the wake of their mother’s departure has thrown Kenny—who was oxygen-deprived at birth—and Nicky, his protective younger brother, into an ongoing struggle just to get by. Sneering older teen Jezbo and twin punks Rich and Rob send Tina, the twins’ Jack Russell terrier, into a badger’s sett, resulting in her being savagely wounded. The boys then beat an old badger to death and abandon Tina. Kenny runs off in shock, but Nicky brings home both the dog and a baby badger left trapped in the bullies’ net. Before setting out to search for the baby’s mother, Nicky cautions his brother that he mustn’t tell anyone, or Jezbo and his gang will return. But Kenny, who has joyfully adopted both animals, proves incapable of keeping the secret, and a confrontation becomes inevitable. The timely arrival of Kenny and Nicky’s father, who’s at last showing signs of recovery, narrowly heads off further violence and allows the story to end on a rising note, which is highlighted by a badger family reunion. Aside from a friend of Kenny’s named Samit, the entire English cast reads as white. Natural dialogue and short, fast-paced chapters will sustain readers’ interest.
An absorbing read. (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781454954774
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Union Square & Co.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
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
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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