An ambitious effort that falls flat.
A coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the 2004 Beslan school siege.
Eighteen-year-old Darya lives with her father; younger brothers, Boris and Igor; little sister, Nika; and ghost of a mother in the Ossetian region of Russia. With their depressed mother in a state of semiawareness, the running of the household and Nika’s care have fallen to Darya; the line between sister and mother blurred, much to her anguish. When Nika is taken as a hostage on the first day of school and subsequently killed, everything Darya knows and hopes for is turned on its head. Her mother regains lucidity, blaming Darya for Nika's death, while her brothers militantly seek revenge on Chechens and Ingush. Meanwhile, her father retreats into work and spending time with his young lover, bringing home an unwelcome suitor for Darya. The arrival of aid workers and an American journalist allows her to hope for more than the quotidian, and she leaves for Moscow in pursuit of a new life. Darya in her desperation is sometimes cruel and manipulative, and her behavior in Moscow feels unconvincing and inconsistent. Mayhew (The Electrical Venus, 2018, etc.) references Russian classics and fairy tales in an attempt to add cultural texture. Unfortunately the characters are drawn in such a way that it is difficult to become emotionally invested in them, weakening the impact of the story.
An ambitious effort that falls flat. (afterword, Russian terms, Russian names, references) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0263-2
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 25, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2019
A thoroughly enjoyable Sapphic romp.
Two medieval teens smash the patriarchy.
Gwen only desires to prove herself as a knight. But entering the men’s-only Tournament of Dragonslayers as “Sir Gawain” is difficult for a blacksmith’s daughter. Meanwhile, blond, blue-eyed Lady Isobelle desires agency, but as the prize for this year’s tournament, she knows her future looks grim. A chance encounter between the two young women sparks a scheme: Gwen will stay with Isobelle, posing as Gawain in the tournament and as his sister when she’s not disguised by a suit of armor. In exchange for training and funding, pale-skinned Gwen, who has black hair and green eyes, will try to win the tournament and Isobelle’s hand, thus rescuing Isobelle from a future with any of the other knights, whose behaviors exhibit textbook toxic masculinity. As their plan gains momentum, the pair soon realize their desire for success is only matched by their desire for each other. But the triple life Gwen leads can last only so long under the scrutiny of the patriarchy. Will she and Isobelle get the chance to be their own heroes? Compelling subplots center their fight against misogyny and classism, and several interludes by an unnamed narrator directly address readers, adding additional depth and intrigue to the worldbuilding. The authors insert abundant intentional anachronisms that successfully inject the story with levity, and Gwen and Isobelle’s chemistry is swoonworthy. There’s some racial diversity among secondary characters.
A thoroughly enjoyable Sapphic romp. (Historical fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9780062893390
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Storytide/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
A well-rounded feast for the heart.
On the cusp of adulthood, a 17-year-old girl escapes her abusive home and discovers a refuge in a sleepy Arizona town.
Two weeks have passed since Nana’s funeral. Her absence still feels raw to Lucy Sánchez, a Mexican American girl who has inherited her grandmother’s love for and knowledge of cooking. Home offers little solace. Lucy’s mother is a ghost of her former self; her father, meanwhile, is a violent tyrant. When Lucy’s brother, Mario, arrives home late one day, it sets their dad off in a rage, and Mario runs away from home. It doesn’t take long for Lucy to fall victim to her father’s ire, and she’s soon plotting her own way out. After a brief spell with her aunt, Lucy decides to head to Los Angeles to enroll in culinary training. On the road, however, she spots a help wanted sign on the window of La Cocina, a small-town restaurant. Lucy ultimately finds what she needs there to start over away from the trauma of her past: a community of supportive (mostly Latinx) friends, an opportunity for love—and even a puppy. In this tale of resilience and recovery, Bernal keeps the pacing tight and brisk, mapping out Lucy’s arc from scared adolescent to triumphant yet cautious chef-in-progress. Despite a somewhat abrupt ending, readers will find a story buoyed by likable characters and the author’s compassionate writing.
A well-rounded feast for the heart. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 31, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-55885-915-9
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Piñata Books/Arte Público
Review Posted Online: April 29, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2021
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