A heartfelt and absorbing historical adventure with light fantasy elements.
In Biehn’s debut, set against the looming threat of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, two young men race to prevent disaster in Pompeii.
Loren, an attendant at the Temple of Isis, aspires to join the council and help implement reforms that will help the city’s residents, but something hidden in his past complicates his ambitions. Felix, a wandering thief, steals the helmet of Mercury—an artifact said to burn anyone who touches it, although it doesn’t harm him—and is threatened by someone who’s seeking the powerful relic. Felix flees, seeking sanctuary in the Temple of Isis, where olive-skinned Loren recognizes him as the “copper-haired ghost” from his prophetic visions warning of Pompeii’s doom. Determined to uncover the connection between his visions and Felix’s immunity to the helmet’s powers, Loren joins Felix on a journey that takes them through a brothel, bars, and patrician homes. Initially adversarial, the boys’ relationship deepens into something more (Felix is bisexual, and Loren is gay). The narrative alternates between the teens’ perspectives; Felix is a troubled youth haunted by fragmented memories, and Loren is an idealist who’s yearning for recognition. Their bond feels authentic, adding emotional weight to the story. The richly described Pompeii setting immerses readers in its vibrant yet tense atmosphere as tremors foreshadow the eruption, although the climactic event itself feels underwhelming compared to the buildup.
A heartfelt and absorbing historical adventure with light fantasy elements. (Historical fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9781682637326
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Peachtree Teen
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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
A worthy second-chance romance.
In this follow-up to 2021’s Better Than the Movies, a 20-year-old college freshman gets a second chance at his dreams.
After the death of his father and his mother’s subsequent physical and emotional disappearance, Wes Bennett left behind all of his plans and the girl he made them with to go home and take care of Sarah, his younger sister. But now, Sarah has graduated, his mom is back on her feet, and by some miracle, Wes has an offer to pitch for UCLA’s baseball team. Liz Buxbaum, the girl he’s always loved, works for the university’s athletic department, taking photos and video of the team for social media, which means that maybe he can have a second chance at love, too. But since Wes left, Liz has made every effort to protect herself from ever feeling that broken again; there’s no room for love, because she doesn’t believe in it anymore. Or she doesn’t want to. This second-chance sports romance includes fake dates, quippy and quirky best friends, real heartache, and the sweet ache of first love. The clever dialogue keeps readers from drowning in the main characters’ emotional push-and-pull. Reading the first novel isn’t necessary for appreciating this one, although knowing the full history between Wes and Liz will only add to the ache and longing readers feel from and for them. Main characters are cued white.
A worthy second-chance romance. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781665947138
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
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