Depending on taste, either a heartbreaking evocation of feels or endless slog of misery.
A bleak, poignant story about families: those you’re born with, those you find, and those you try to steal.
Sammy Lou, only 15, and his autistic older brother, Avery, are homeless, scraping by on Avery’s precarious earnings and whatever Sammy can steal. Until he breaks into the De Lainey house, the polar opposite of empty: one dad, seven kids, and all their friends. Sammy hides in the effervescent chaos, aided by the gorgeous, ferocious, talented Moxie…until his past catches up with him. Australian author Drews leans hard on the pathos, burdening undersized Sammy (cued as white) with a runaway mother, a brutal criminal father, an abusive aunt, constant hunger, illness, and injury; but also an explosively violent temper and toxic co-dependency with Avery. Lush prose with distracting lapses into idiosyncratic formatting reveals a lonely, self-loathing teen yearning to belong. Avery is a complicated foil; his autism presents matter-of-factly, neither blamed for nor excusing his poor choices. Other characters are less well drawn; Moxie, with her olive skin and frizzy “chocolate hair,” may have her own goals but serves mostly as a vehicle for Sammy’s dreams; her brothers exist to be charmingly quirky; and every adult (except the improbably saintly De Lainey father) is cruel, exploitative, or at best indifferent. The downward spiral of Sam’s bad decisions accelerates until only a metaphorical fairy godparent can provide a barely hopeful resolution.
Depending on taste, either a heartbreaking evocation of feels or endless slog of misery. (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4083-4992-2
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Orchard/Hachette UK
Review Posted Online: March 10, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
This duology closer delves deeper into mythology while depicting textured, realistic relationships.
Briseis goes on an even riskier journey with more menacing enemies in the sequel to This Poison Heart (2021).
Sixteen-year-old Briseis Greene’s story continues as she is tasked with reuniting all the pieces of the Absyrtus Heart in order to save Thandie, one of her adoptive moms, who is being held by Hecate in the underworld. Bri finds out that Circe (the biological aunt whose existence she only recently learned of following her supposed death) is actually alive and has been searching for the pieces of the Heart as well. This revelation marks just the beginning of the discoveries and twists that Bri has to deal with: The history of her biological family and their connections to mythological gods go deeper than she realized, and the adversaries she has to face are even more dangerous than everything she’s experienced thus far. But saving her mom is paramount, and Bri is willing to do anything and face anyone in order to do so. Readers who were hooked after reading the previous book with its cliffhanger ending will be pleased to follow more of Bri’s story. Bayron highlights themes of sisterhood, familial bonds, and intergenerational trauma in this novel centering Black characters. Bri’s story showcases how love can help give one the strength and courage needed to confront fears and weather uncomfortable truths.
This duology closer delves deeper into mythology while depicting textured, realistic relationships. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: June 21, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0920-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: April 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2022
Everyone’s a suspect in this thrilling tale that armchair sleuths will enjoy untangling.
A twisty whodunit set against the backdrop of a town haunted by a deadly curse.
High school senior Eden Stafford didn’t want to attend the all-night party at Fairport Village, the scene of several grisly murders of teens over the decades. But she and her mom need the money; ever since her dad fled to avoid embezzlement charges, finances have been tight, so she agrees to work as an assistant to her friend Henry, who’s filming a documentary at the ruined seaside resort for a film school application. When Henry’s dead body is found, followed by that of classmate Diego, Eden realizes that the old curse is killing kids again. She reluctantly teams up with Caleb, her former best friend who turned into her bully, and his clique to work out what really happened to the first victim, Nicolas—and what his death has to do with whoever or whatever is stalking them now. Ichaso provides an impressive roster of suspects, keeping Eden (and readers!) on guard as the mystery plays out. Eden’s growing feelings for Caleb complicate her investigation even as she deals with past hurt and recriminations that add layers of emotion and suspicion. The town’s history is entertaining, and the crimes’ dual timelines allow for extra sleuthing. The crumbling California resort setting is vividly depicted. Most characters present white.
Everyone’s a suspect in this thrilling tale that armchair sleuths will enjoy untangling. (Mystery. 14-18)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781728299709
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2025
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