Like John Neufeld (see Freddy's Book, KR, p. 817, J-269), Judy Blume seems to be growing impatient with fictional considerations and more preoccupied with her bibliotherapeutic themes — which is not to deny that this could hit a responsive nerve with her body-centered early adolescent readers. At the beginning Deenie is an ordinary seventh grader preoccupied with making the cheer-leading squad, disgusted by hunchbacks and cripples and a classmate with eczema, and plagued by a stereotypically insensitive mother determined to make a professional model of her pretty daughter. Then the gym teacher suspects and doctors confirm that Deenie has scoliosis, "a structural curvature of the spine which has a strong tendency to progress rapidly during the adolescent growth spurt." The rest of her story — about half of which seems to take place in doctors' offices, where we are exposed to all the processes involved in making a brace mold, deals with her adjustment to the brace that she will wear for four years in order to grow up straight. Instead of giving Deenie any personality or independent existence beyond her malady, the author throws in the subtopic of masturbation — Deenie likes to touch her "special place" to get "that good feeling," and is relieved when the gym teacher tells the class it's okay — which only makes the story's hygienic slant more pronounced.
Pub Date: Sept. 17, 1973
ISBN: 0385739850
Page Count: 146
Publisher: Bradbury
Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1973
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A gut-wrenching read about the stark and horrific realities of surviving in the aftermath of violent crime.
Three young women connected by trauma navigate the nuances of recovery in this trilogy closer.
Following the trial of their rapist in The Way I Am Now (2023), Eden, Gennifer, and Amanda face the debilitating fear and anxiety that come in the wake of Kevin’s sentencing to a mere 180 days in prison. Their lives reflect the forces that shaped each of them. Amanda, a senior in high school whose father has sided with her brother, Kevin, grapples with her mental health and wonders whether taking her own life is safer than waiting for him to be released. College student Eden found the love of her life in Josh, but she’s unable to take the next step and move in with him, wondering if her fear and anxiety will always haunt them. And Gen, Kevin’s ex-girlfriend, has dropped out of college and is unable to feel safe except when she’s with her rescue dog. The three young women, who present white, share the narration. Smith describes their complex triggers, reactions, and coping mechanisms in ways that feel brutally realistic. The story offers a deep dive into the intricacies of survival, along with an examination of the injustice that often follows when the rapist is a member of the community and victims are pitted against perpetrators and public opinion.
A gut-wrenching read about the stark and horrific realities of surviving in the aftermath of violent crime. (content note) (Fiction. 17-adult)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9798347110476
Page Count: 384
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
Come for the romance; stay for the artistry.
Two teens in love experience a shocking event in this deeply felt novel.
Lexie Weiss-Greenberg escapes an overburdened past when she drives across the country from Los Angeles with her mother and 8-year-old sister, Orly, to the small town of Covington to live with her Aunt Ida and start afresh. Covington is known for its healing natural hot springs, the pools. Lexie hopes that they’ll help her mother, who’s incapacitated by chronic pain and depression. This suspenseful story unfolds seamlessly in a variety of poetic forms and is laced with foreboding and heart. As summer begins, Lexie has a boyfriend: olive-skinned 17-year-old Chester Allegheny, who’s on the high school swim team. Chester may be Christian and come from money, but he appreciates Lexie’s financially struggling Jewish family. Then one winter day a horrifying, fantastical event occurs at the pools; the rest of the book is about how the townspeople deal with the aftermath. Ever-responsible Lexie sets out to find a solution—but the clock is ticking. The book explores themes including sacrifice, secrets, loss, care for others, self-worth, and the different ways people manage depression. Reminiscent of Michael Grant’s Gone (2008) and other stories of teen resourcefulness in the face of disaster, this book also brings fresh insights to the Brothers Grimm folktale it references. The cinematic, poetic writing features scenes of heartbreak, horror, and devotion, culminating in a gorgeous Technicolor finale.
Come for the romance; stay for the artistry. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9780593904121
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: July 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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