A queer romance that offers an uplifting, if somewhat predictable, tale of first love.
Two 13-year-old boys discover love and sexuality in this debut YA romance.
Set in late-1980s Houston, Freeman’s novel opens with the electric chemistry between the protagonist and narrator, Alex Kennedy, and Brandon Marshall. The teens meet at the Bissonet Avenue Church of Christ, where Brandon’s father is the preacher. Brandon is a jock with “incredibly fair brown hair” who talks fast and cracks crude jokes that keep the more reserved, intellectual Alex on his toes. But from their first encounter, Alex realizes he can’t imagine a life without his new friend, who looks “like he just stepped out of a magazine.” At group retreats and sleepovers, Alex discovers the world of fundamental Christianity. Brandon’s menacing father lords Scripture over his family in contrast to Alex’s loving, open-minded parents, who put his happiness and safety above all else. That does not stop the boys from discovering each other’s bodies—and their mutual admiration for the Adonis-like high schooler Joel Thompson. Small physical affections quickly escalate to a deeply felt yet necessarily secret romance. But homophobic attacks, local politics, and the bigotry of Brandon’s own family all brew in the background, threatening to separate the teens as they start to come to terms with their confusing feelings. Through Alex’s wise-beyond-his-years voice, Freeman perfectly captures the uncertainty and intensity of a friendship on the verge of a queer romance, and the contradictorily cosmopolitan and conservative Houston is a perfectly rendered setting. Unwavering support from Alex’s parents right from the start produces a few very moving moments, but it also deflates the dramatic tension. (Their frank discussions with the boys can also feel more like a progressive parenting manual than realistic conversations.) The plot often seems on the verge of something darker and more complex—like Alex’s borderline inappropriate sleepovers with the much older Joel—but the author consistently returns to the simpler, sweeter, and more classic beats of love triumphing over all.
A queer romance that offers an uplifting, if somewhat predictable, tale of first love.Pub Date: July 12, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-63988-311-0
Page Count: 402
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A stellar cyberpunk series opener packed with simmering romance and cinematic thrills.
A down-and-out teen, days from eviction, competes in the championships of the world’s most popular virtual reality game.
Emika Chen, 18, has been on her own for six years, living in poverty with a juvenile record, supporting herself by bounty hunting. She survives on ramen, with $13 and a debt of $3,450 to her name, and few joys: memories of her dead father, her crush on the world-famous 21-year-old inventor Hideo Tanaka, and her passion for Hideo’s game, Warcross. Universally adored, Warcross is an immersive battle game with CGI–ready virtual combats. When Emi exploits a Warcross bug in a last-ditch attempt to make some cash, she glitches into the game. Suddenly, she’s a media darling, and Hideo Tanaka himself summons her to Japan for a top-secret job. Whisked away on a private jet, Emi is flabbergasted by the perks of her new position—one of which is membership on one of the world’s top pro teams. Emi (an American with an implied Chinese heritage) grows fond of her multiethnic team (with a wheelchair-using captain), but could one of them be a saboteur? Brief shoutouts to Lu’s Legend series will intrigue ardent fans, though they don’t seem to imply a connection between the worlds.
A stellar cyberpunk series opener packed with simmering romance and cinematic thrills. (Science fiction. 13-adult)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-399-54796-6
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
An action-packed story expanding the world of women pirates.
An “assassin among pirates” embarks on a mysterious, thrilling recovery mission.
In this stand-alone companion to the Daughter of the Pirate King duology, Queen Alosa asks 18-year-old dark-brown-skinned Sorinda to lead search efforts for a missing vessel in uncharted waters north of the Seventeen Isles. “I’m not who you send to save people,” reflects the austere assassin to herself in hopes that the request will prove to be a playful ruse. Though the queen’s invitation seems in conflict with her hitwoman duties, Sorinda accepts the risky endeavor and subsequently receives an accompanying crew peppered with familiar faces. Kearan—an excellent sailor tasked by the queen to assist Sorinda—is someone she would prefer to evade despite his desire to forge a reconnection. Once the expedition is underway, the voyage slowly grows into an adventurous rumpus, beginning with eerie disappearances and a gripping sea battle that forces Sorinda and her crew to prepare for whatever or whoever is lurking in the treacherous seas. Themes of vulnerability and self-possession dominate the story as the guarded protagonist—usually cloaked in secrecy—steadily reveals more of herself. Seemingly inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, Levenseller largely captures a similar blend of humor, fantasy, romance, and action. The defining difference here—a focus on women characters—is a fine attribute.
An action-packed story expanding the world of women pirates. (chapter annotated by the author) (Adventure. 13-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781250864970
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
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