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WORDS COMPOSED OF SEA AND SKY

An effective two-for-one romance.

Two young women in different centuries balance creativity and love.

Michaela Dunn hopes to attend Winslow College of Fine Arts, the same institution as her late father, an English professor who died when she was very young. A poetry workshop weekend at the college may be the foot in the door Michaela needs. When her stepfather balks at the workshop’s exorbitant enrollment fee, Michaela pins her hopes on winning a local poetry competition hosted by Winslow, one revolving around the town’s fabled whaler-poet Capt. Benjamin Churchill. In researching the captain’s life, Michaela discovers the journal of Leta Townsend, his would-be lover. The novel toggles between Leta in 1862 and Michaela in the present day as they balance their artistic ambitions against engaging love triangles. That’s right, there are two plucky heroines and four handsome hunks in this sweeping romance—and the author successfully juggles them all. The narrative effectively balances big, swoonworthy moments against smart character work, giving characters just enough shading and fleshing out the nooks and crannies of the sleepy Massachusetts town. The dual narratives bounce off each other well, handing off storylines at just the right moment to create suspense, warmth, and romantic pangs. Michaela, Leta, and their romantic suitors are all presumed White.

An effective two-for-one romance. (Romance. 12-18)

Pub Date: May 25, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-7624-6820-1

Page Count: 368

Publisher: Running Press Teens

Review Posted Online: March 12, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021

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POWERLESS

From the Powerless Trilogy series , Vol. 1

A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.

The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.

Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.

A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)

Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023

ISBN: 9798987380406

Page Count: 538

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023

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BETTER THAN THE MOVIES

Exactly what the title promises.

A grieving teen’s devotion to romance films might ruin her chances at actual romance.

Liz Buxbaum has always adored rom-coms, not least for helping her still feel close to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was little. Liz hopes that her senior year might turn into a real-life romantic fantasy, as an old crush has moved back to town, cuter and nicer than ever. Surely she can get Michael to ask her to prom. If only Wes, the annoying boy next door, would help her with her scheming! This charming, fluffy concoction manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope, from fake dating to the makeover to the big misunderstanding. Creative, quirky, daydreaming Liz is just shy of an annoying stereotype, saved by a dry wit and unresolved grief and anger. Wes makes for a delightful bad boy with a good heart, and supporting characters—including a sassy best friend, a perfect popular rival, even a (not really) evil stepmother—all get the opportunity to transcend their roles. The only villain here is Liz’s lovelorn imagination, provoking her into foolish lies that cause actual hurt feelings; but she is sufficiently self-aware to make amends just in time for the most important trope of all: a blissfully happy ending. All characters seem to be White by default.

Exactly what the title promises. (Romance. 12-18)

Pub Date: May 4, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-5344-6762-0

Page Count: 368

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021

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