A happily-ever-after story about multicultural friends who are portrayed more as role models than complex characters.
A Cuban-American teenager from Florida uses a physics assignment to figure out what he wants when he finds himself stuck in a love triangle.
If Marco Suarez succeeds at becoming a Ph.D. in astrophysics, he will be the first member of his family to earn a degree of any kind. A straight-A student who works a 40-hour-a-week grocery store job, Marco is prepared to surpass his father’s career as a custodian. But as he nears the end of high school and an old girlfriend returns to town, he must face some difficult decisions while trying not to hurt anyone’s feelings. Written in a fast-paced style with engaging dialogue, the lack of flaws in Marco’s pleasing character render him nearly one-dimensional. He is loyal, wise, hardworking, and willing to sacrifice everything for his family. He selflessly puts his friends ahead of himself. His teachers and elderly neighbors love him. The novel does pitch some interesting plot elements at the reader, but even as the adults in Marco’s life cause him problems, the consequences of their actions are disappointingly never fully explored. The love sparks, best friend group dynamics, and philosophical musings are fairy tales that happen on the periphery of real problems. The meta-commentary of the novel’s story only makes the writing feel more self-conscious.
A happily-ever-after story about multicultural friends who are portrayed more as role models than complex characters. (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: March 19, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4424-8509-9
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
A book that seamlessly brings readers along on a journey of impact and empowerment.
A manifesto for budding feminists.
At the core of this engaging novel are besties Chelsea, who is Irish- and Italian-American and into fashion and beauty, and Jasmine, who is African-American, loves the theater, and pushes back against bias around size (“I don’t need your fake compliments, your pity. I know I’m beautiful. Inside and out”). They and their sidekicks, half-Japanese/half-Lebanese Nadine and Puerto Rican Isaac, grow into first-class activists—simultaneously educating their peers and readers. The year gets off to a rocky start at their progressive, social justice–oriented New York City high school: Along with the usual angst many students experience, Jasmine’s father is terminally ill with cancer, and after things go badly in both their clubs, Jasmine and Chelsea form a women’s rights club which becomes the catalyst for their growth as they explore gender inequality and opportunities for change. This is an inspiring look at two strong-willed teens growing into even stronger young women ready to use their voices and take on the world, imploring budding feminists everywhere to “join the revolution.” The book offers a poetic balance of dialogue among the main characters, their peers, and the adults in their lives. The exquisite pacing, which intersperses everyday teen conflicts with weightier issues, demonstrates how teens long to be heard and taken seriously.
A book that seamlessly brings readers along on a journey of impact and empowerment. (resources for young activists, endnotes) (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 12, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0008-3
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2019
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
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
