Misunderstandings and miscommunication drive this character-driven romance.
Love is put to the test.
As a self-proclaimed scientist, high school senior Aubrey Cash is an anti-romantic. Evidence like her parents’ failing marriage and her best friend Reese’s long list of ex-boyfriends who were “the one” confirm her theory that “the whole concept of true love is inherently flawed.” Holland Sawyer might just be the guy to test her observations thus far, however. His optimism could balance Aubrey’s cynicism, and their first meeting has the makings of an “epic meet-cute.” Except there’s the fact that he’s Webster Casey’s cousin—the same Webster who seemingly inexplicably stood her up at their junior dance; the Webster who now is either at her throat or completely shutting her out. Things get all the more complicated when Webster is assigned to be her Life Skills class partner for the semester. Aubrey is self-aware of her M.O. and realizes that she filters evidence through her own preconceived ideas; nevertheless, she can’t help herself, and her tendencies start to sabotage the relationships that matter to her even though those around her are there to call her out and drive her self-reflection. Readers will find Aubrey sympathetic as she struggles. The romantic tension is not as strong as the more well-developed friendship between Aubrey and Reese, whose ups and downs have higher stakes. Characters are predominantly White by default; Webster is bisexual.
Misunderstandings and miscommunication drive this character-driven romance. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-335-14795-0
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2021
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
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