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
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
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
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