A compassionate, tender, and necessary read.
A child battles anxiety and invasive thoughts in Bournelis’ debut children’s novella.
Louie’s anxiety is spinning out of control. His 10th birthday is coming up, but he won’t be able to have a birthday party with friends due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Making things worse is the Dictator—an inner voice that constantly tells Louie that if he doesn’t do as he says, there will be catastrophic consequences. Louie tries to ignore it, but in the end, the Dictator always seems to win out: He makes Louie check his bag several times to make sure there are two masks in it; tells him to take rubber gloves to school even though he’s not allowed to wear them there; and insists that Louie must rewrite the answers for a math quiz until the numbers perfectly fit the boxes. The Dictator’s voice becomes stronger the more Louie’s anxiety ratchets up, telling him he’s “going to be in so much TROUBLE” numerous times a day. One day, the Dictator tells him his favorite dish is poisoned, so Louie refuses to eat it. His mom becomes upset, and, because Louie knows his situation is worsening, he asks her for help. His parents take him to see someone they call a “mind wizard” who diagnoses him with obsessive-compulsive disorder and gives him strategies to deal with the Dictator. The novel is narrated from Louie’s perspective, effectively focusing on his emotions as he deals with paralyzing anxiety on a daily basis. Louie also models proactive behavior as he gets help, takes his sessions seriously, and begins to improve. In addition, Bournelis reveals how her protagonist makes assertive decisions to “plan a crushing counterattack” against the Dictator; she also shows how his newfound courage is put to the test when his beloved dog, Bailey, gets lost. The text is punctuated by occasional, uncredited black-and-white illustrations of Louie that are well executed. The story will create awareness about mental health issues in children as it empowers its protagonist to change his own life.
A compassionate, tender, and necessary read.Pub Date: July 17, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-228-85768-6
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Tellwell Talent
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Full of passion and determination.
There’s nothing Houston Stewart cares more about than space—with the exception of Robbie, his little brother.
When their dad walks out on them and their mom, the brothers make a vow: They’ll go to the moon together someday. Accepted into the prestigious Junior Astronaut Recruitment Program, Houston’s path to this dream has begun. However, 10-year-old Robbie has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and is nonspeaking. Thirteen-year-old Houston is determined to not only find a way for Robbie to join him, but in the process win over his NASA hero—who’s also the maternal grandfather he’s never met. Houston’s newly assigned crew is full of quirky, varied personalities, and they must work through conflicts to lift each other up. A wealth of fascinating details about space travel is shared naturally via their lessons and tasks; both the overwhelm and the excitement of the aspiring astronauts are well conveyed. Houston’s connection with his estranged grandfather—once a distant idol, now coming into view as a flawed human being—provides an emotional center of gravity, as does the affection between the brothers. But, while treated with respect, Robbie often feels pushed off to the side, present to motivate Houston’s journey. The need for accessibility both in regular life and the space program for people with disabilities like Robbie and Houston’s crewmate Freya, who has a sensory processing disorder, is highlighted. Houston and his family read white; the JARP candidates are racially diverse.
Full of passion and determination. (author’s note, resources) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2023
ISBN: 9781250205209
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Fun, honest, and uplifting: applause!
An aspiring actor who uses a manual wheelchair is determined to land a part in a community theater production.
Moving cross-country from California to New Jersey and leaving her best friend, Chloe, behind is hard enough for Nat. Even worse, the new house doesn’t feel like home, and her parents are as overprotective as ever. When Nat, an avid fan of musicals, spots an advertisement for the local theater’s production of Wicked, she’s sure that nabbing a part will make her feel at home. But her father wants her to focus on wheelchair racing, and her mother doubts her ability to fit in; it’s up to Nat to prove she can take the stage. The authors know their stuff—Tony Award–winner Stroker was the first wheelchair user to be cast in a Broadway play, and Davidowitz is a playwright—and it shows. Nat’s relationship with her loving but overbearing parents rings perceptively and painfully true, as does her frustration with inaccessible venues and patronizing attitudes. Her enthusiasm for the theater is infectious, but readers needn’t be theater buffs to relate to her fear of growing apart from Chloe and her desire for independence. A quirky cast of secondary characters lends humor, support, and a little romance as they illustrate the fun and rigor of acting. Nat defaults to White; the secondary cast is somewhat diverse.
Fun, honest, and uplifting: applause! (authors’ note) (Fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: April 13, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4197-4393-1
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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