A celebratory coming-of-age novel with a thoughtful, resilient heroine.
A Black teenager deals with racism at school and problems at home in this 1970s-set YA novel.
Roberta Forest, one of the few Black students at her Catholic school in Philadelphia, is proud of her heritage. But standing up for her point of view lands her in trouble—and on her 13th birthday, no less. When Sister Elizabeth asks how Thomas Jefferson could promote independence while owning slaves, Roberta answers that he was a hypocrite. The nun is furious, raging, “Go back to Africa. We never needed you people in the first place!” When Roberta replies angrily, the nun slaps her three times, and the teenager hits back in self-defense, earning her a suspension from school and punishment at home. The incident kicks off a stressful year. Roberta is barred from entering a writing contest she was determined to win; her father moves out; and her mother is strict and critical. Writing poetry in her diary helps manage some of her feelings, but Roberta also rebels against her school and her mother. Over the course of the year, she learns truths, often surprising ones, about Sister Elizabeth, her family, and herself and develops her inner strength. In her novel, Farmer makes good use of a challenging time in American history. The Watergate scandal follows the upheavals and shocking assassinations of the 1960s, and Black teenagers like Roberta have such models to emulate as Angela Davis and Malcolm X. Roberta’s character is complex; she questions her faith and her family but also grapples with self-doubt and guilt. She must reevaluate her black-and-white (in two senses) ideas of the truth in order to mature. Farmer brings emotional fidelity to Roberta’s struggles, making the girl’s growth feel well earned.
A celebratory coming-of-age novel with a thoughtful, resilient heroine.Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68463-083-7
Page Count: 257
Publisher: SparkPress
Review Posted Online: Oct. 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A treat for mystery readers who enjoy being kept in suspense.
Everyone believes that Salil Singh killed his girlfriend, Andrea Bell, five years ago—except Pippa Fitz-Amobi.
Pip has known and liked Sal since childhood; he’d supported her when she was being bullied in middle school. For her senior capstone project, Pip researches the disappearance of former Fairview High student Andie, last seen on April 18, 2014, by her younger sister, Becca. The original investigation concluded with most of the evidence pointing to Sal, who was found dead in the woods, apparently by suicide. Andie’s body was never recovered, and Sal was assumed by most to be guilty of abduction and murder. Unable to ignore the gaps in the case, Pip sets out to prove Sal’s innocence, beginning with interviewing his younger brother, Ravi. With his help, Pip digs deeper, unveiling unsavory facts about Andie and the real reason Sal’s friends couldn’t provide him with an alibi. But someone is watching, and Pip may be in more danger than she realizes. Pip’s sleuthing is both impressive and accessible. Online articles about the case and interview transcripts are provided throughout, and Pip’s capstone logs offer insights into her thought processes as new evidence and suspects arise. Jackson’s debut is well-executed and surprises readers with a connective web of interesting characters and motives. Pip and Andie are white, and Sal is of Indian descent.
A treat for mystery readers who enjoy being kept in suspense. (Mystery. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9848-9636-0
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
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
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