In part coming-of-age story, mystery, and romance, this book has something for everyone. (Mystery. 14-adult)
Summer is always a party in the small town of Gold Fork, Oregon, but this year will be more memorable than ever—and not for the right reasons.
First-person narration alternates among four high schoolers during summer vacation: two boys—brainy Davis and athletic Erik—and two girls—kind Ana and cool drug dealer Georgie. They are friends, of a sort, tied together by an accidental fire at a chapel that took place two years earlier during a church youth group camping trip when the four sneaked out at night to smoke a joint. Summer romances abound as well as complicated family affairs. On top of it all, someone has been committing arson around town, and the big questions everyone is pondering are who—and why? Most of the residents live dead-end, poverty-stricken lives in this tourist town, while the Weekenders who flock there during the summers and for the winter ski season see only a beautiful refuge. The characters are raw, giving this clever, moving story a staggering realism in addition to being a gripping thriller and a compelling critique of society. While there is mention of a Latinx community in Gold Fork, all main characters are white except for Latina Ana and her mother.
In part coming-of-age story, mystery, and romance, this book has something for everyone. (Mystery. 14-adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4814-9033-7
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 4, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
An important plot-driven story about two teens who stand up for what’s right in the face of adversity.
High school seniors and best friends Logan and Cade are asked to defend the indefensible as part of a history assignment; they refuse.
Logan and Cade are not Jewish, but when their history teacher, Mr. Bartley, gives them an assignment in which they are to take on the role of Nazis and reenact the Wannsee Conference of 1942, each taking a side of the “debate” about the Final Solution, they protest. This is not a debate at all but a dehumanizing discussion about the extermination of the Jewish people. Narrated from the perspectives of several different characters, the novel tells a fictionalized story based on the actions of two New York state teens who stood against their teacher, principal, and, eventually, their school district with the help of their families and community. Despite abrupt, sometimes confusing point-of-view switches and somewhat wordy prose, this fast-paced novel will keep readers thoroughly engaged and eager to learn the resolution, rooting for Logan and Cade the whole way. The book contains a small element of romance as well as some references to sexual assault and physical abuse. The book also depicts anti-Semitic actions and related hate crimes. Main characters are assumed to be cisgender, white, and straight. There is diversity among the secondary characters, including one queer character.
An important plot-driven story about two teens who stand up for what’s right in the face of adversity. (resources, discussion questions) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-12316-4
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, entertaining romance.
Mental illness is no match for love in this diverse, compelling novel.
After years of missing New York City, Chinese American teenager Jocelyn Wu has finally gotten used to living in Utica. She’s got a best friend, a spot in a college-level film class, and has even found a bubble tea place. So when her father announces that their family has to move back to the city because their restaurant is bankrupt, she’s determined to find a way to stay. Her first step is to hire teen Will Domenici, a biracial (Nigerian/white) budding journalist who lives with acute anxiety. Sparks fly, and what started out as a summer internship becomes a full-blown romance—one that Jocelyn’s father, Mr. Wu, stipulates can continue only if the pair fulfills the terms of a contract that include raising the restaurant’s revenue by 30% before the end of the summer. With her happiness at stake, Jocelyn begins to suffer from her own mental health issues—ones that she’s not sure her relationship can survive. Gregorio’s (contributor: Our Stories, Our Voices, 2018, etc.) diverse cast of characters authentically navigate their mental illnesses through the twists and turns of a fast-paced plot, and the romance between Will and Jocelyn sparkles.
A sweet, entertaining romance. (author’s note, resources) (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: April 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-316-42382-3
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
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