The narrative architecture collapses under its weak high concept, but sharp observation, sly humor, and moments of...
Before dying from a congenital heart condition, Jesse liquidated his college fund to send his best friend, three cousins, and girlfriend to Europe; it’s up to them to figure out why.
They agree they’re meant to search for Jesse’s mother, who early abandoned him and his art-historian father, who’s decorated their apartment with reproductions of madonnas (the mother of Christ standing in for Jesse’s missing human parent). Jesse’s cousins—Cal and her older brother, Trevor, and their fussy cousin, Ben—spent childhood holidays with Jesse. Easygoing Trevor is happy to escape his debt-accumulating, social networking venture. Cal’s conflicted; Jesse entrusted her with his notebook, though she hadn’t seen him for years. Jesse sent Ben maps for the trip, put his friend Matt in charge of finances, and extracted a promise from his beautiful girlfriend, Lillian, that she’s not sure she can fulfill. Smart, attractive, and affluent (Lillian’s black, the rest are white), the five debate, quarrel, and ponder as they follow clues from Germany to Italy. Narrative potholes—six shifting points of view (Jesse’s comes via his notebook) and flashback-heavy reflection—slow the pace. Character motivations are unpersuasive. Jesse is too distant and not different enough from the other special, Salinger-esque wunderkinder to play the central role he’s assigned.
The narrative architecture collapses under its weak high concept, but sharp observation, sly humor, and moments of brilliance mitigate defects; if readers are left with crumbs, at least they’re delicious . (Fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: April 19, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-385-39157-3
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Jan. 8, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK TO SCREEN
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
