A satisfying and ingeniously constructed debut.
A teenage girl discovers a mysterious agenda at an elite academy in Byrne’s YA thriller.
Catalina “Lina” Jamison is a 16-year-old high school freshman. Close to her parents Walker and DJ, and to her younger sister Emma Claire, she makes average grades in school and hopes to land a summer job at her local rec center. One day, she mysteriously receives an invitation to attend Haverford Pines, an exclusive academy nestled in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Lina thinks the offer “sounds like a scam”; despite her misgivings, she agrees to attend to please her parents. Once there, Lina immediately bonds with her roommate, aspiring model Brittany Moore, and settles into a rigorous regimen of cognitive testing and physical fitness. Together with new friends Gabi, Charles, Hayden, and Eric, she delves into the history of Haverford Pines and its legacy as an educator of some of the most famous—and infamous—people in history, including astronaut Jack Swigert and assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. As Lina’s investigation deepens, she discovers that she and her classmates were specifically chosen to attend Haverford Pines for a reason, and the truth could put their lives, and the lives of their families, in danger. Byrne’s debut is a briskly paced SF thriller bolstered by strong characters and skillful plotting; the author is a naturally gifted storyteller who skillfully weaves references to real people and events into the narrative to construct the convincing conspiracy at the heart of the story. Lina is a relatable protagonist, an average high school student who finds herself at a storied, mysterious institution navigating a panoply of arcane traditions and rules. In a series of well-constructed scenes, including one in which she saves Charles from a potentially fatal asthma attack, Lina gains confidence through acts of strength and courage, and she is surrounded by a well-rounded cast of supporting characters. The novel works as a standalone thriller, though the conclusion lays the groundwork for a potential sequel.
A satisfying and ingeniously constructed debut.Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2024
ISBN: 9798218369484
Page Count: 314
Publisher: Humboldt State University Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 16, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© 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.
