Two people emerge from their personal cocoons in this Australian import. Until he meets Tom Leyton, Joseph is a shy 14-year-old who hardly speaks to anyone. Sketching Tom for a school project, Joseph soon learns the tortured past of the reclusive Vietnam veteran who raises silkworms in his sister’s home. As the summer progresses, the two unlikely companions share their dark secrets, and Joseph gains the courage to confront the mysterious figure he sees chasing him both on the street and in his dreams. Joseph’s musings are occasionally too sophisticated for his chronological age, but such maturity appears authentic for his introverted personality. Instead of creating a static boogeyman, Bauer’s deft depiction of the Running Man moves him beyond spooky into a sympathetic light. A heavily moralizing subplot, built around Joseph’s guilt after a fight with his father, is unnecessary and adds a false and harsh note to the exploration of interpersonal relationships. Thankfully, the metamorphosis theme flows smoothly, enabling younger teen artists and scientists to enjoy both silkworm and character maturation. (Fiction. YA)
Pub Date: July 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-06-145508-7
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2008
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A fun premise that misses the mark a few too many times.
Ex-boyfriends Lukas and Jeremy will each do anything to become homecoming king.
Lukas, a White cisgender boy, and Jeremy, a White transgender boy, were the picture-perfect football player and cheerleader couple at their exclusive private school—until Jeremy began transitioning and broke up with Lukas. Now Lukas, who is autistic, wants to prove himself to his ableist family, and Jeremy seeks validation as a man. Both see winning homecoming king as the key to their dreams, which include admission to prestigious colleges. Jeremy’s confidence and strong gay identity make him an enjoyably unusual trans male character, and discussions of gender identity throughout are interesting and current. Though Jeremy’s desire to enter the world of rich White men may be understandable, the dynamics of these wealthy teenagers’ underlying privilege are underdeveloped. The text acknowledges their socio-economic advantages, but Jeremy still bemoans being “stuffed full of privilege in every way but the one that matters most,” forcing readers to ponder which privilege “matters most,” a subject that could have been richly explored. The book also presents some stereotypes without irony, like the Asian best friend whose cultural texture does not extend beyond having harshly controlling and perfectionist parents and the college dropout with two jobs and criminal tendencies. Lukas is sympathetic, but Jeremy’s antisocial behaviors render him unlikable, without enough growth for a satisfying redemption.
A fun premise that misses the mark a few too many times. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 18, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-62512-0
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A love story—romantic and familial—that is a must-read.
Avery and her parents move to her mom’s hometown to care for her ailing grandma.
Lately 17-year-old Avery feels like she needs a change of scenery, a break from Washington, D.C., and her singular focus on early admittance to Georgetown. When Avery’s mom, Zora, learns her mother is dying from cancer, she decides to move back home. After more than a decade away, Zora is not wholeheartedly embraced by Mama Letty. As a queer, biracial teen—Avery’s mom is Black, and her dad is White—Avery’s welcome in rural Bardell County, Georgia, population 9,127, is just as cold. Avery tries to understand what caused the rift between her mom and Mama Letty and what happened to her grandfather, but both women are reluctant to share. Avery befriends the pretty Black girl next door and the rich White girl whose family runs everything, and she discovers Bardell County is full of buried secrets. As in most small towns, everything and everyone is connected, and debut author Hammonds skillfully unpeels each layer of intrigue, keeping readers engaged until the last page. The tension between Mama Letty and Zora is complex and deep-seated, and the generational trauma revealed throughout is beautifully explored. Hammonds seamlessly weaves together mystery, romance, and a town’s racist history, crafting a gripping and emotional story.
A love story—romantic and familial—that is a must-read. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-81655-9
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
PROFILES
PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVES
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
