A thought-provoking and original addition to the genre; clever, thrilling, and impossible to put down.
A futuristic society where souls are tracked and controlled across lifetimes forms the backdrop for this gripping debut.
In the America of 236 A.K., every 18-year-old is required to undergo kirling, a process of “matching of a soul from a former life (foli) to a current life (culi),” using a global database. Sivon hopes her kirling results will offer her a much-needed sense of direction—until she realizes exactly how dangerous the system can be. Her fears of facing the harsh fate of a bad soul intensify when Ziva, a girl she befriends at the Semyon Kirlian Institute, is revealed to be Flavinsky, a soul notorious for taking their own life after every kirling. Sivon’s world is upended after the results of her kirling bring an unexpected outcome, and she soon finds herself fighting for survival when secrets come to light. Danzenbaker takes a fresh approach to the genre, blending classic themes with an innovative reincarnation-based premise. Sivon is a relatable protagonist who captures the uncertainty of youth while demonstrating remarkable resilience. The plot is fast-paced and suspenseful, though the final act, packed with revelations, risks overwhelming readers with its convoluted complexity. Still, the writing remains sharp, the twists are compelling, and the story delivers an engaging exploration of identity, resistance, and the question: Does our past define us? Following “centuries of international peace and merging cultures,” Sivon lives in a multiracial society.
A thought-provoking and original addition to the genre; clever, thrilling, and impossible to put down. (Dystopian. 12-18)Pub Date: July 29, 2025
ISBN: 9781665963701
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
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
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
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