This coming-of-age story about diverse characters coming to grips with their layered identities rings true.
An Indian American boy struggles with his sexuality and mental health while finding a place for himself in seventh grade.
Rahul Kapoor may not be sure about his sexuality, but he is sure of one thing: This year, he wants to make an impression. Inspired by a story his grandfather tells him, Rahul decides that the best way to impress his classmates—and, in the process, to protect himself from bullies—is to pick something and be the best at it. With the help of his fiery best friend, Chelsea, a white girl who wisely, consistently steers Rahul toward being himself and doing what he loves, Rahul tries a number of activities before settling on Mathletes, where he soon becomes a star. But when Japanese American Jenny asks him to the Sadie Hawkins dance, and when his Mathletes career doesn’t go as planned, Rahul spirals into an anxious depression with symptoms of OCD that force him to confront and eventually accept exactly who he is. In his author’s note, Pancholy notes that Rahul’s story is semiautobiographical, and it shows. Every character in the story is nuanced and sympathetically rendered, and the book does not shy away from racism, sexism, ableism, or homophobia. The protagonist’s devastatingly honest voice pulls readers deeply into a fast-paced journey riddled with heartbreakingly authentic moments of anxiety, confusion, and triumph.
This coming-of-age story about diverse characters coming to grips with their layered identities rings true. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-06-286641-7
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
Goldblatt’s outstanding tale ponders a timeless, universal dilemma as a remarkable boy seeks to reconcile the heartbreak and...
Goldblatt’s sequel to Twerp (2013) chronicles the momentous events of Julian’s seventh-grade year.
A friend’s devastating illness and a false accusation of vandalism upend Julian’s life. His friend Quentin’s diagnosis of a brain tumor occurs at a pivotal moment, just as he is preparing for his bar mitzvah. Julian seeks guidance from his rabbi about his struggles to comprehend life, heaven and God. Their conversations address the uncertainty and inequity of life’s fortunes and misfortunes. Goldblatt movingly depicts the steadfast friendship enjoyed by Julian’s group of pals as they support Quentin, deftly painting the small moments. In one, when the ailing Quentin asks to join in on a game of tag, it results in the spontaneous creation of “Piggyback Tag,” perfectly capturing the solidarity and joy of true friendships. Interwoven with his anxiety over Quentin’s illness is Julian’s evolving awareness that his past will always be a part of his present. After being blamed for vandalizing a student’s artwork, Julian must write an essay on citizenship for his principal. Although he initially resists, Julian’s essay becomes a distillation of his experiences, reflecting his growing understanding of life’s complexities. When Julian discovers a seemingly unbearable truth, he must summon the resolve to weather the trials life may deliver.
Goldblatt’s outstanding tale ponders a timeless, universal dilemma as a remarkable boy seeks to reconcile the heartbreak and uplift that punctuate his life. (Fiction. 11-14)Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-385-39108-5
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
It would behoove those new to the series to begin with the first book, but those anticipating the conclusion of the trilogy...
The third and final installment in the dystopian Psi Chronicles.
Gevri, bitter from Taemon’s perceived betrayal in Archon (2013), has embraced his father, the cruel Gen. Sarin, and his military tactics. However, when his small group of young archons—people with psychic abilities, like himself—is captured and tortured by the Nau, it’s Taemon who saves them. Despite this, Gevri allows himself to continue on his father’s path until his father’s actions cause him to doubt. The narrative switches between Gevri and Taemon—the True Son of Deliverance, who possesses great psychic ability—with Amma getting the last word (or at least perspective) at the end. When Taemon realizes Gen. Sarin won’t keep his word to leave Deliverance in peace if Taemon saves Gevri, he communes with the Heart of the Earth and decides to lead his people away. However, even outside their city, the people of Deliverance are not safe. Each chapter begins with a Nau military correspondence, cluing readers into their actions, which affect both Deliverance and the Republik. The story’s biggest liability is in occasionally unrealistic characterization; Gen. Sarin in particular is too much the quintessentially evil villain to be believable, and the role of a True Son pretender is equally unconvincing.
It would behoove those new to the series to begin with the first book, but those anticipating the conclusion of the trilogy will not be disappointed by the ever-so-slightly-tidy ending. (Dystopian adventure. 10-14)Pub Date: April 28, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-7262-1
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2015
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