An amusing coming-of-age tale that nicely blends mischief with growing maturity.
Two Seattle teenagers in 1960 conceive pranks that sometimes backfire in this debut YA novel.
In the last moments of English class before summer vacation begins, 13-year-old Dennis Fishel can barely pay attention to his teacher’s reflections on an Emily Dickinson poem: “Even the smallest things we do in kindness for others can not only help us feel better about ourselves, but make our world a little brighter.” Though Dennis isn’t a bully like Russell Folmer, a neighbor kid and notorious lunch stealer, he doesn’t go out of his way to be kind. When Jay Walters, a boy his age, moves next door, Dennis is more interested in his model-airplane hobby than friendship. But Jay also builds model planes, and the two soon become pals and partners in crime. While Jay’s pranks lead to trouble, he and Dennis often wiggle out by blaming Russell, whom they’re delighted to see punished in their stead. But over time, Dennis learns that appearances aren’t always what they seem—and starts listening to his conscience in a new way. In his tale, author Fishel conjures up one scenario after another of hijinks and schemes that have much anarchic appeal, such as flying a kite armed with dog turds to bomb an enemy. The temptation to follow Jay’s lead is easy to understand. As an only child who’s often at loose ends, Dennis appreciates that “boredom didn’t hang around very long with Jay Walters nearby,” and he gains some courage from his friend. Although the boys do pull off some stunts, the story is balanced with consequences—as when they’re caught in a shoplifting plot and are tricked into performing hours of backbreaking unpaid work. When the resolution arrives, it feels earned, not preachy.
An amusing coming-of-age tale that nicely blends mischief with growing maturity.Pub Date: April 2, 2020
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 306
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
