A smooth and imaginative-enough adventure, complete with romance, monsters and mythology.
An orphan girl seeks a family and finds more than she could have expected.
When her mother dies, Delia tries to reach the Maine island where her grandmother lives but finds it cut off from the world. Finally, an old man takes her there, but no one welcomes her. Uncovering the secrets of the island, she learns that a race of demigods tied to ancient Greek mythology controls everything that happens there, while the occupants do their best to accommodate those they see as their protectors. Those accommodations, however, include demanding great sacrifices from some of their young people. Worse, real monsters lurk just under the surface of the sea, and a few might be found on land as well. But when the celebration of Revel arrives, Delia acts as no other has dared in the history of the island. Tension flares when both Delia and Jax, her supernatural protector, step outside the rules. Demigod or not, Jax doesn’t control the forces or the true rulers of the island. Guibord keeps the focus on the island’s unfolding mysteries and on the adventure, throwing in two possible romantic partners for Delia: a handsome local boy and Jax, the (thankfully) unhandsome, rebellious demigod. Characters come across as believable and engaging, especially Delia’s tough grandma, Ben, the seaman who, as he says, is older than he looks, and iconoclastic Jax.
A smooth and imaginative-enough adventure, complete with romance, monsters and mythology. (Paranormal romance. 12 & up)Pub Date: Feb. 12, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-385-74187-3
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Nov. 30, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
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
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
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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