First-time author Sonnenblick has pulled off a rare feat. Not only did he make this story about a 13-year-old boy, whose little brother contracts leukemia, real and raw and heart-rending, he made it hysterically funny as well. Steven Alper, who is untalented in sports but terrific on the drums, is giving his pesky five-year-old brother Jeffrey oatmeal when Jeffrey, who has been complaining recently that his “parts hurt,” falls off a stool and gets a nosebleed that just won’t quit. That night Steven finds out that Jeffrey has leukemia. Although the plot—Steven’s stressed-out family has no energy for him and he becomes a source of strength for his brother while simultaneously falling apart himself—is conventional, the subsidiary characters at home, school and the hospital have a flesh-and-blood reality and the situations ring true. Moreover, the reader falls in love with the brothers, laughing and crying by turns and rooting for both of them until it almost hurts. (Fiction. 12+)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 0-439-75519-0
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2005
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sequel that gets better and better the longer it steeps.
A second chapter for the endearingly sweet, Star Trek–loving “Fractional Persian” Darius Kellner.
Visiting Iran. Scoring the internship of his dreams at Rose City Teas. Playing on his high school’s varsity men’s soccer team—where his awesome teammates keep the bullies at bay. Having a lot of fun kissing Landon, a prospective first boyfriend with “television cheekbones.” But even all these highs can’t keep Darius’ depression at bay. Landon might be cute—and Darius’ Persian mother certainly approves of Landon’s cooking abilities—but he keeps pressuring Darius to go beyond kissing when he isn’t ready. Darius also worries about his terminally ill grandfather and best friend, Sohrab, both “half a world away” in Iran. Family troubles and confusing feelings for a teammate only exacerbate the “burning plasma reactor feeling” in Darius’ chest. With rich characters and multilayered storytelling, Khorram’s sophomore effort deepens the complexity of Darius’ world. Blending broad themes like consent and toxic masculinity with the specificity of Darius’ intersectional identity (gay, White and Iranian), this coming-of-age masterpiece packs a multitude of truth and heart. As “super white” as the Portland, Oregon, setting may be, Khorram takes care to incorporate the diversity that does exist within the city. While the first volume focused heavily on Darius’ relationship with his dad, this one expands the focus, balancing tough situations with a hopeful undercurrent.
A sequel that gets better and better the longer it steeps. (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-10823-9
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2020
PROFILES
A powerful and moving family saga.
Explores the relationships among four generations of Filipino American boys and men.
In 1929, 16-year-old Francisco Maghabol immigrates from Ilocos Sur in the Philippines to California, lured by the promise of riches. Instead, he ends up doing grueling agricultural work for a dollar a day and faces violent racism. In 1965, Emil studies hard, hoping to attend college and make it in America, unlike his absent father, Francisco. Determined to escape his father’s divisive reputation for organizing strikes for Filipino workers, Emil attempts to assimilate. In Colorado in 1983, Chris wants to play football, but his controlling, grades-focused dad, Emil, forces him off the team. A school history assignment and a Filipino classmate make Chris realize he wants to learn about the culture his father has erased. In 2020, Enzo, Chris’ son, has just started managing his anxiety—but thanks to the spreading pandemic, Lolo Emil, the grandfather none of them like, comes to live with them in Philadelphia, causing tension. Told in alternating viewpoints, this strongly characterized novel covers the boys’ struggles with identity against the backdrop of changes in American society. The many heartwarming and heartbreaking moments offer deep insights into intergenerational patterns and how one’s life experiences and upbringing affect parenting and relationships. Ribay weaves historical events in the U.S. and the Philippines and Filipino cultural elements into the story, showing their impact on the Filipino diaspora.
A powerful and moving family saga. (family tree, author's note, resources) (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2024
ISBN: 9780593461419
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Kokila
Review Posted Online: June 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PROFILES
PERSPECTIVES
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