Fighting, flirting and familial pressure set the scene for an intense day at a regional chess tournament. Brothers Zeke and Randy Mansfield have never been close. Zeke is the soccer player who has to work hard for just about anything he wants. Randy is more relaxed and outgoing and is the only person who can regularly beat Zeke at chess. The only thing the boys think they have in common is the mutual but unspoken low opinion of their father. To the senior Mansfield, winning is everything; nothing ever fully pleases him. As the day of intense play progresses, Zeke and Randy become more open with each other regarding their parents and the state of their brotherly relationship. Chess may be an exciting game to play and even to watch, but the tension between the players and audience doesn’t come through to readers here during the scenes of play. The lack of physical action consequently slows the book down in parts, but the interesting characters, natural dialogue and overall slenderness keep it from checkmate by boredom. A decent choice for boys looking for mental rather than physical adventures. (Fiction. YA)
Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-375-84058-6
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2009
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
A heartfelt romance that shows how letting go of the past can bring you an even brighter future.
Two high school rivals learn there’s more to each other than meets the eye.
With her college dreams hinging on the success of her jewelry business, Harper is desperate to be awarded a Young Entrepreneurs Grant and frustrated that everyone at her school privileges the athletes. Hockey team member Dawson hopes to be recruited by college scouts; he’s also battling pressure from his dad, a former hockey star. Though Harper and Dawson find each other annoying, they often cross paths since Harper works at Dawson’s family’s diner. When Dawson’s coach is fired for misuse of funds, one of the hockey players starts a rumor that Harper is involved. But over time, the dynamic between Dawson and Harper begins to change as they reevaluate themselves and each other. Despite the slow start, this charming enemies-to-lovers narrative succeeds thanks to the well-paced progression of the leads’ relationship. Their alternating first-person points of view allow the complexities of their inner feelings to show through. The characters’ interactions feel intentional, and the emphasis on connection and friendship extends beyond romance, for example, through the supportive, open communication between Dawson and his friends Alex and Ryan. Charlotte’s debut successfully combines sports, friendship, and the emotional highs and lows of high school love. Main characters are cued white.
A heartfelt romance that shows how letting go of the past can bring you an even brighter future. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 18, 2025
ISBN: 9781665971423
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2025
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