An emotional, aesthetic, and hopeful journey to self-discovery.
An aspiring teen artist yearns to break free from her family’s nomadic lifestyle in Spieller’s debut novel.
For the Rhodes family, home is an RV on a never-ending trek across the country with two other families, one of which includes Dessa’s best friend and secret crush, Cyrus. Despite the caravan’s “never stop moving” mentality, Dessa dreams of becoming a real artist and settling down one day—also known as “High Nomad Treason.” She eagerly applies to 10 art schools but is rejected by every single one of them. Already feeling lost and bound to the life her parents chose for her, she discovers that her father, a web designer without a degree, is struggling to make ends meet. She unexpectedly lands an internship with Santa Fe–based artist Fiona Velarde, a promising opportunity that will test her artistic abilities, challenge her loyalty to her family, and hinder her emerging romance with Cyrus. Refreshingly, it is the parents in this story who have poor decision-making skills throughout, often relying on group votes to decide the caravan’s fate. Dessa’s resilience is laudable and will resonate with anyone well-acquainted with failure. The cast is mainly white (Dessa has a Greek grandmother) with some racial diversity—Cyrus and another supporting character are black, and Fiona is tan-skinned with black hair.
An emotional, aesthetic, and hopeful journey to self-discovery. (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: June 26, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4814-9212-6
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 2, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
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
A book that seamlessly brings readers along on a journey of impact and empowerment.
A manifesto for budding feminists.
At the core of this engaging novel are besties Chelsea, who is Irish- and Italian-American and into fashion and beauty, and Jasmine, who is African-American, loves the theater, and pushes back against bias around size (“I don’t need your fake compliments, your pity. I know I’m beautiful. Inside and out”). They and their sidekicks, half-Japanese/half-Lebanese Nadine and Puerto Rican Isaac, grow into first-class activists—simultaneously educating their peers and readers. The year gets off to a rocky start at their progressive, social justice–oriented New York City high school: Along with the usual angst many students experience, Jasmine’s father is terminally ill with cancer, and after things go badly in both their clubs, Jasmine and Chelsea form a women’s rights club which becomes the catalyst for their growth as they explore gender inequality and opportunities for change. This is an inspiring look at two strong-willed teens growing into even stronger young women ready to use their voices and take on the world, imploring budding feminists everywhere to “join the revolution.” The book offers a poetic balance of dialogue among the main characters, their peers, and the adults in their lives. The exquisite pacing, which intersperses everyday teen conflicts with weightier issues, demonstrates how teens long to be heard and taken seriously.
A book that seamlessly brings readers along on a journey of impact and empowerment. (resources for young activists, endnotes) (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 12, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0008-3
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2019
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