A timely, nuanced, and unforgettable story about the power of art, community, and friendship.
Sixteen-year-old Jade dreams of success beyond her neighborhood despite the prejudices that surround her.
For two years, Jade has been a scholarship student at a predominantly white private high school where she is one of few African-American students—the only one from her “bad” neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Jade’s mom struggles to make ends meet. At school, Jade has many opportunities, steppingstones to move beyond her neighborhood someday, maybe even travel the world. But sometimes these opportunities and her white guidance counselor make Jade feel like a charity case. Junior year brings yet another opportunity that leaves Jade feeling judged and pitied: the Woman to Woman mentorship program, which promises a full college scholarship to mentees. Jade’s mentor, Maxine, is both well-intentioned and also black, but she’s from a wealthy family. Jade chafes against the way Maxine treats her as though she needs to be saved. Through Jade’s insightful and fresh narration, Watson presents a powerful story that challenges stereotypes about girls with “coal skin and hula-hoop hips” who must contend with the realities of racial profiling and police brutality. Jade’s passion for collage and photography help her to find her voice and advocate not only for herself, but for her community.
A timely, nuanced, and unforgettable story about the power of art, community, and friendship. (Fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-68119-105-8
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Nov. 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2016
A light and dreamy travel romance.
A Chinese American teen ends up stuck with her nemesis on a whirlwind trip.
Seventeen-year-old Leah Zhang is dreading her cousin’s wedding, feeling self-conscious about her Mandarin abilities and her uncertain future after quitting modeling. At the wedding, she’s dismayed to find she’s seated at the same table as her former bully, Cyrus Sui, the subject of her nightmares ever since the Incident. The stress of his unwelcome presence causes Leah to commit a major linguistic faux pas, prompting her parents to send her on a two-week trip around China, run by the local Chinese school, to reconnect with her roots. Of course, Cyrus turns out to be going too. Leah decides this is her chance for revenge: She’ll use her looks and the charm she’s honed through modeling to make him fall for her, before dumping him unceremoniously—and publicly. But as she gets closer to him, Leah starts to wonder if he may not be the nemesis she made him out to be. And the more time she spends in her parents’ homeland, the closer she gets to finding her true place in the world. Shanghai, Anhui, and other picturesque locations form a vibrant backdrop for the couple’s swoony rom-com antics. Though Leah’s revenge plot feels a bit contrived at times and some of the serious topics (intergenerational issues, Sinophobia, and Asian beauty standards) aren’t explored with much depth, romance fans will enjoy watching the couple find their happy ending.
A light and dreamy travel romance. (Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9781546110675
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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