An effective combination of traditional and modern YA elements.
A hilarious, angst-ridden YA novel about a teenage girl acclimating to life at a new high school by Griffin (Beauty and the Wiener: A Rescue Dog Romance, 2017, etc.).
Adrianna Bottom was bullied relentlessly at her old school in Seattle, and she’s determined not to experience the same fate at Beverly Hills High. But she’s off to an inauspicious start. As if having the surname Bottom weren’t enough, her father is a self-proclaimed “Bathroom Baron” who made his fortune selling novelty bathroom accessories. Her parents are parlaying their newfound wealth into a reality TV series starring Adrianna—whom they call the “Porcelain Princess.” On her first day of school, she accidentally exposes her Wonder Woman–underwear-clad bottom to her entire biology class, a feat that’s also filmed for the reality show. She does manage to meet three new people, however: a beautiful girl named Harper; Harper’s ex, Lennox; and the geeky Kevin. Harper immediately warns Adrianna of the social suicide that would result from fraternizing with Kevin, who, among other nerdy pursuits, spends his weekends doing fantasy live-action role-playing with friends. Adrianna soon finds herself leading a dual existence—hanging out with Harper and other popular kids during weekdays and role-playing (behind a mask) with Kevin on weekends. Adding to her woes is reality show producer Corbin, who’s determined to do anything—no matter how humiliating or socially disastrous for Adrianna—to garner a larger viewing audience. This book embraces some traditional aspects of YA literature—including a romance and a quest to be popular—but it avoids trendy dystopian or paranormal aspects. Griffin perfectly captures the characters’ adolescent angst, and many readers will relate to Adrianna’s dilemma—she wants to do what’s right, but she’s so emotionally scarred by past bullying that she feels crippled by indecision. Indeed, the author’s characterizations of Adrianna, Kevin, Harper, and even Lennox make this YA novel transcendent. The addition of live-action role-playing and reality television keeps the story feeling contemporary, and there’s just enough bathroom humor to add laughs without being too heavy-handed.
An effective combination of traditional and modern YA elements.Pub Date: March 7, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-63375-593-2
Page Count: 354
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Review Posted Online: Feb. 23, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A girl learns about her magical heritage and preordained fate just as an evil wizard threatens to take over an enchanted world in this YA series opener by Drake (Touching Fate, 2015).
Gia knows she loves libraries. But she doesn’t realize that she can use them as portals to other libraries around the globe until she accidentally falls into a book, taking her friends Nick and Afton with her. On the other side, they encounter a horrible creature the size of a rhino under attack by several teenagers in armor, including Arik, a dreamy warrior who shares a love of Gia’s favorite children’s book. These teens are Sentinels, protectors of the gateways between the human world and the realm of Mystiks, or magical folks. Not only does it turn out that Gia is a Sentinel herself, but she’s also the prophesied daughter of two Sentinels—an illegal union—and she may bring about the end of the world. But Gia’s not one to let prophecies and rules interfere with her dreams; she agrees to train as a Sentinel for the summer, as long as she’ll get her old life back in the fall. But as Gia becomes deeply involved in the Mystik realm, where anyone could be an agent of Conemar, the sinister wizard set on global domination, she realizes that more depends on her there than at home. This familiar-feeling novel boasts some energetic new twists. Drake’s worldbuilding is intriguing: powerful battle globes (Arik wields a fire globe; “He can manipulate the fire into a thin whip”), new races of fairy creatures who work in tandem with Sentinels and wizards, and—best of all—portals in libraries, which many readers will eagerly believe are mystical places. And while Gia possesses a clear teen voice, her romantic feelings remain inconsistent; her relationship with Arik seems on again, off again before it ever starts. Other plot points, such as the mistaken identity of a key character, remain muddled. And a late-introduced love triangle seems inserted almost haphazardly. While suffering from too many characters and some convoluted plot elements, this novel still offers an exuberant mashup of portal fantasy and chosen-one motifs.
Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-63375-221-4
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Review Posted Online: Jan. 6, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A thoughtful, sensitively drawn examination of bullying, revenge, and personal responsibility.
In Andrefski’s (The Girlfriend Request, 2016, etc.) novel, a bullied teen at an elite private school plots revenge against her tormentors during recruitment week for a secret society.
The last day of school at Trinity Junior Academy is a day of celebration for Samantha Evans. She’s excited about beginning high school in the fall with her best friends, Jessica and Jeremy. That same day, though, everything changes when her father is arrested for insider trading. Compounding the shock is the discovery that he’s having an affair with Jessica’s mother. Eventually, her father is convicted and both couples divorce. Samantha is sent to live with her Aunt Loretta and attends high school at Trinity Academy, where Jessica begins tormenting her. When Samantha discovers graffiti mocking her father’s imprisonment, she feels that the time has come to exact revenge on Jessica and her friends, and the selection process for the school’s secretive Musterian Society provides the perfect opportunity. After Samantha hacks into the society’s website, she sends invitations to three unsuspecting classmates along with details of various tasks they’ll need to complete during Rush Week. Her plan seems foolproof until the pranks take a dangerous turn and she wonders if her desire for vengeance is worth risking her classmates’ safety or her friendship with Jeremy. Andrefski’s exploration of the ramifications of bullying is compelling and includes a well-developed storyline with a strong heroine. Samantha is an intelligent student who balances her school responsibilities with serious family turmoil, including her aunt’s dementia; she also attempts to reconcile with Jessica to no avail and faces daily reminders of her father’s crimes and affair. The scenes of bullying are brief but effectively convey Samantha’s emotional trauma and establish her motivation for revenge. Her scheme unfolds like an intricately plotted thriller, with the pace quickening as her plans start to unravel. Andrefski also skillfully weaves several effective subplots into the main narrative, including Samantha’s relationship with a mysterious older teen named Ransom.
A thoughtful, sensitively drawn examination of bullying, revenge, and personal responsibility.Pub Date: May 3, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-63375-318-1
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Review Posted Online: May 2, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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