A necessary story, full of emotion and with a hopeful ending.
A 14-year-old girl discovers a dangerous secret that puts her relationships to the test.
Avielle LeBeau has dreamed of carrying on her family’s legacy of attending Historically Black Boarding Schools at Briarcliff Preparatory School for Girls, especially since it means being with her older sister, Belle, and near her twin brothers, who attend all-boys Preston Academy. Despite her excitement, Avi worries about landing a spot on the prestigious school paper and adjusting to life away from home. Her hectic schedule fills with extracurriculars, homework, a budding romance, and social events—but it doesn’t escape her notice that Belle’s boyfriend seems off. Avi notices how controlling he is, telling Belle how to dress and who to be friends with, and after witnessing an explosive argument between them, she knows something is wrong. Suddenly Avi’s problems seem small as this larger crisis unfolds. Debut author Peppins’ thoughtful, realistic writing shows the alienation that victims of domestic violence endure along with the impact it can have on those who love them but have a limited ability to bring about real change. Through limited omniscient narration, readers enjoy a detailed account of Avi’s life at an HBBS; however, the author doesn’t skimp on the characterizations of members of Avi’s core support system. Many people and subjects significant to Black culture are woven into the story and will spark recognition for many readers.
A necessary story, full of emotion and with a hopeful ending. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-368-07837-5
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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