A cautionary tale that pays tribute to the allure of classical music.
A high school student pursues musical excellence and experiences the high cost of gaining her piano teacher’s favor.
Seventeen-year-old Claire Alalay dreams of attending a college where her love of classical music will not distance her from her peers. She knows that tuition at her top choices is too high for her and her widowed mother to afford. After her guidance counselor suggests that she participate in music competitions, which would enhance her college applications and potentially lead to scholarships, Claire seeks instruction from Paul Avon, one of the best piano teachers in the Bay Area. Paul maintains high standards for his students; though Claire strives to satisfy Paul’s expectations, her best efforts are not always enough, and she becomes increasingly sensitive to his critiques. Salaysay captures the mindset of a girl steeped in self-consciousness, craving praise while expecting criticism, torn between fitting in and just being herself. The leisurely paced plot allows tension to build slowly, almost imperceptibly, until things take a troubling turn in the second half of the book and Claire becomes a victim of sexual assault. The writing is poetic in the moments when Claire reflects on the music she hears and plays. Her vivid descriptions convey a deep appreciation for the genre that will resonate with readers. Claire is Filipina; Paul is white.
A cautionary tale that pays tribute to the allure of classical music. (Fiction. 16-18)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0960-0
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: March 24, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2020
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship.
A battered girl and an injured rugby star spark up an ill-advised romance at an Irish secondary school.
Beautiful, waiflike, 15-year-old Shannon has lived her entire life in Ballylaggin. Alternately bullied at school and beaten by her ne’er-do-well father, she’s hopeful for a fresh start at Tommen, a private school. Seventeen-year-old Johnny, who has a hair-trigger temper and a severe groin injury, is used to Dublin’s elite-level rugby but, since his family’s move to County Cork, is now stuck captaining Tommen’s middling team. When Johnny angrily kicks a ball and knocks Shannon unconscious (“a soft female groan came from her lips”), a tentative relationship is born. As the two grow closer, Johnny’s past and Shannon’s present become serious obstacles to their budding love, threatening Shannon’s safety. Shannon’s portrayal feels infantilized (“I looked down at the tiny little female under my arm”), while Johnny comes across as borderline obsessive (“I knew I shouldn’t be touching her, but how the hell could I not?”). Uneven pacing and choppy sentences lead to a sudden climax and an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending. Repetitive descriptions, abundant and misogynistic dialogue (Johnny, to his best friend: “who’s the bitch with a vagina now?”), and graphic violence also weigh down this lengthy tome (considerably trimmed down from its original, self-published length). The cast of lively, well-developed supporting characters, especially Johnny’s best friend and Shannon’s protective older brother, is a bright spot. Major characters read white.
A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship. (author’s note, pronunciations, glossary, song moments, playlists) (Romance. 16-18)Pub Date: Nov. 28, 2023
ISBN: 9781728299945
Page Count: 626
Publisher: Bloom Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
A very full mixed bag.
In the sequel to Furyborn (2018), Rielle and Eliana struggle across time with their powers and prophesied destinies.
Giving readers only brief recaps, this book throws them right into complicated storylines in this large, lovingly detailed fantasy world filled with multiple countries, two different time periods, and hostile angels. Newly ordained Rielle contends with villainous Corien’s interest in her, the weakening gate that holds the angels at bay, and distrust from those who don’t believe her to be the Sun Queen. A thousand years in the future, Eliana chafes under her unwanted destiny and finds her fear of losing herself to her powers (like the Blood Queen) warring with her need to save those close to her. The rigid alternation between time-separated storylines initially feels overstuffed, undermining tension, but once more characters get point-of-view chapters and parallels start paying off, the pace picks up. The multiethnic cast (human versus angelic is the only divide with weight) includes characters of many sexual orientations, and their romantic storylines include love triangles, casual dalliances, steady couples, and couples willing to invite in a third. While many of the physically intimate scenes are loving, some are rougher, including ones that cross lines of clear consent and introduce a level of violence that many young readers will not be ready for. The ending brings heartbreaking twists to prime readers for the trilogy’s conclusion.
A very full mixed bag. (map, list of elements) (Fantasy. 17-adult)Pub Date: May 21, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-5665-4
Page Count: 608
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 19, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2019
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