While the book’s not a total miss, better mystery and better representation can be found elsewhere.
In her fifth novel, Shaw tackles friendship, trust, and difference.
Sixteen-year-old Frederick, a white boy with Asperger’s, is regularly bullied by the “Despisers.” Loathing doctors’ labels and finding the majority of social interactions more difficult than they are rewarding, Frederick prefers a life of solitude. But then Angel Martinez, a “moderately” fat Latina who is “different from most girls,” pushes her way into Frederick’s life, becoming his friend and turning his world upside down. After an alcohol-infused night of misplaced trust, Angel wakes up in a field unsure how she got there and what may have happened to her. Ashamed and self-blaming, she manipulates Frederick into keeping her plan to run away a secret, but when Angel is officially reported missing, Frederick must decide whether to share what he knows or keep his titular promise and “don’t tell, don’t tell, don’t tell.” A speedy conclusion feels abrupt and leaves questions about the consequences of their actions dangling. Frederick narrates the first half of the book, and Angel the second. While both voices feel forced at times, Angel’s falls flat, and beyond her self-loathing and weight, it is unclear who she really is. Problematic tropes, including the unexplored conflation of disability with asexuality, are disappointingly present.
While the book’s not a total miss, better mystery and better representation can be found elsewhere. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-927583-95-1
Page Count: 235
Publisher: Second Story Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
A warm, optimistic transgender coming-of-age and queer romance.
Sixteen-year-old Miles has two goals for the year: beat his rival at the Tri-State Piano Competition and win back his ex-boyfriend.
Miles Jacobson, a White trans boy from Wisconsin, had been dating Shane McIntyre for a year before Miles came out and Shane broke up with him. He believes that if Shane really loved him, his gender shouldn’t matter. But Miles’ New Year’s resolution to win Shane back is complicated by the arrival of Eric Mendez, a cute Latine guy who actually is queer and also likes Miles. As Miles works toward his piano goals with Stefania Smith, his demanding new teacher, a romance blossoms with Eric—even though Miles still has Shane on the brain. Underhill makes it clear in a preface that this is a joyful queer story, and it lives up to that promise. The book captures the delight of being not just accepted, but also understood—as well as the pains of being misunderstood. It celebrates Miles’ real triumphs, from finding a suit that fits to mastering a Tchaikovsky concerto. Miles is likable and relatable as he tries to discover who he is on his own terms, not based on what others think of him. The author has chosen to include Miles’ birth name prominently; this is uncomfortable but realistic for someone early in his transition. The supporting characters, especially Stefania, are well developed and bring life to Miles’ world.
A warm, optimistic transgender coming-of-age and queer romance. (author's note) (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-83520-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
A charming cozy fantasy about defying expectations and finding love.
The lives of two Los Angeles girls inhabiting different universes intersect, proving that love knows no bounds.
Brenda Nguyen has a 19-step plan to save the world. Kat Woo is haunted by her legacy as the chosen one, a role she has no interest in. Brenda, working on an environmental science college scholarship application, stumbles into Sammy’s Coffee and Pick-Me-Ups, which Kat’s family owns. As the girls get to know each other, Brenda at last finds someone who’ll listen to her detailed plans, while Kat discovers she has something to look forward to. The girls, who alternate narrating the story, must defy the odds as their worlds begin to collide. As well as being a love story, this is an exploration of familial expectations: Kat is trying to outrun them, while Brenda is driven to fulfill hers. The girls, who are of Chinese and Vietnamese descent, respectively, complement each other: Brenda learns to live in the present, and Kat begins to look to the future. While there are pixie swarms and mana surges, the action takes a back seat to characterization. Lee’s fully developed parallel worlds are alike in many ways, although in Kat’s, you can buy teleportation spells at Target. The cast is rounded out by solid portrayals of the girls’ friends and family, who are important to the plot.
A charming cozy fantasy about defying expectations and finding love. (author’s note, recommended reading) (Fantasy romance. 14-18)Pub Date: June 10, 2025
ISBN: 9781250778024
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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