A dazzling, razor-sharp look at adolescence, first love, and what it means to stand out from the crowd.
In Rossi’s YA novel, when a neurodivergent teenager attempts to organize a Shakespeare play in his outpatient program, chaos and self-discovery ensue.
For Rian Folie, a neurodivergent 16-year-old with impulse control issues, the final straw comes when he throws himself out of his mother’s moving car and ends up (once again) in the emergency room. It is there that Rian accepts help in the form of an “intensive outpatient program” called Restorations, an organization that specializes in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Under the leadership of his strict case manager, Ms. Rabst, Rian attempts to get a grip on his ever-wandering brain. When his well-meaning high school literature teacher, Mr. Custwell, introduces him to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (“a love play about teens with a restless brains…Ends with a car crash”), Rian is inspired to try to stage it with his fellow Restorations buddies in an effort to impress the gorgeous Aurora Diaz. But as the production hits multiple snags and Rian’s relationship with Aurora begins mirroring that of the tragic lovers in the play, Rian must finally decide: Will he will absorb Aurora’s dark addictions as his own? Or is it finally time to break free? Rossi has crafted a singular and compassionate story that effortlessly weaves together Rian’s decidedly modern experiences—at home, school, and Restorations—with Shakespeare’s timeless themes of young love and family turmoil. Rian’s narrative voice is an absolute delight, vacillating between beauty and heartbreak in the blink of an eye: “I can see my mother peeking out of the window. She’s been waiting. I wrecked her marriage. She sleeps on the floor to protect me. My sister electrocuted herself because of how I made her feel. And now this beautiful girl is breaking before my eyes.” Realistic dialogue and believable, painful obstacles make his experiences feel almost tangible. Rian’s journey toward healing and acceptance (of himself, his situation, his life) culminates in a moving portrait of a neurodivergent teenager whose struggles are both unique and eternal.
A dazzling, razor-sharp look at adolescence, first love, and what it means to stand out from the crowd.Pub Date: Oct. 24, 2025
ISBN: 9798986641331
Page Count: 298
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Nov. 6, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
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
A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told.
The 17-year-old son of a troubled rock star is determined to find his own way in life and love.
On the verge of adulthood, Blade Morrison wants to leave his father’s bad-boy reputation for drug-and-alcohol–induced antics and his sister’s edgy lifestyle behind. The death of his mother 10 years ago left them all without an anchor. Named for the black superhero, Blade shares his family’s connection to music but resents the paparazzi that prevent him from having an open relationship with the girl that he loves. However, there is one secret even Blade is unaware of, and when his sister reveals the truth of his heritage during a bitter fight, Blade is stunned. When he finally gains some measure of equilibrium, he decides to investigate, embarking on a search that will lead him to a small, remote village in Ghana. Along the way, he meets people with a sense of purpose, especially Joy, a young Ghanaian who helps him despite her suspicions of Americans. This rich novel in verse is full of the music that forms its core. In addition to Alexander and co-author Hess’ skilled use of language, references to classic rock songs abound. Secondary characters add texture to the story: does his girlfriend have real feelings for Blade? Is there more to his father than his inability to stay clean and sober? At the center is Blade, fully realized and achingly real in his pain and confusion.
A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told. (Verse fiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-310-76183-9
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Blink
Review Posted Online: April 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2017
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.
