A gripping queer interracial romance about secrets, lies, and healing.
Star basketball player Scottie Zajac begins her senior year of high school heartbroken.
Her ex-girlfriend, Tally Gibson, ended their relationship right before transferring to a fancy high school in a neighboring town, and the breakup has left Scottie feeling like a shadow of herself—so much so that her sister calls her “a walking insecurity.” In an effort to get Tally’s attention—and possibly to win her back—Scottie bribes cheerleading captain and homecoming queen Irene Abraham to pretend that the two of them are dating. Irene agrees even though it means she’ll have to come out at school (Irene is already out to her family). At first, the plan works even better than expected: Tally finds out about the couple and texts Scottie out of jealousy, and the cheerleading squad starts showing up to the girls basketball games, giving the team the confidence they need to play better and better. But then Scottie and Irene start to develop real feelings for each other, feelings that are complicated by the fact that Scottie isn’t over Tally and Irene harbors a secret of her own. This optimistic romance is a page-turner full of quippy dialogue and emotional authenticity. Scottie, Irene, and their group of friends are complex, well-developed characters whose empathy and introspection are refreshing. Most characters are White; Irene is Indian American, and Scottie’s best friend is Black.
A gripping queer interracial romance about secrets, lies, and healing. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: April 20, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-20915-3
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 4, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
SEEN & HEARD
A treat for mystery readers who enjoy being kept in suspense.
Everyone believes that Salil Singh killed his girlfriend, Andrea Bell, five years ago—except Pippa Fitz-Amobi.
Pip has known and liked Sal since childhood; he’d supported her when she was being bullied in middle school. For her senior capstone project, Pip researches the disappearance of former Fairview High student Andie, last seen on April 18, 2014, by her younger sister, Becca. The original investigation concluded with most of the evidence pointing to Sal, who was found dead in the woods, apparently by suicide. Andie’s body was never recovered, and Sal was assumed by most to be guilty of abduction and murder. Unable to ignore the gaps in the case, Pip sets out to prove Sal’s innocence, beginning with interviewing his younger brother, Ravi. With his help, Pip digs deeper, unveiling unsavory facts about Andie and the real reason Sal’s friends couldn’t provide him with an alibi. But someone is watching, and Pip may be in more danger than she realizes. Pip’s sleuthing is both impressive and accessible. Online articles about the case and interview transcripts are provided throughout, and Pip’s capstone logs offer insights into her thought processes as new evidence and suspects arise. Jackson’s debut is well-executed and surprises readers with a connective web of interesting characters and motives. Pip and Andie are white, and Sal is of Indian descent.
A treat for mystery readers who enjoy being kept in suspense. (Mystery. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9848-9636-0
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
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