A downbeat but ultimately hopeful story that shows a way out and up; suited for struggling readers.
A troubled high school student struggles after the death of his father in Thompson’s YA novel.
Nick and his best friend, Grady, steal chips and juice from Mike’s Market. At school, Nick finds out he got a D on a test and detention for tardiness. He hates school and can’t stand happy kids. Nick, who was a good student in middle school, fondly remembers a former teacher; he also recalls the night his dad died in an accident. After Nick and Grady steal some spray paint from Price Mart, they are preparing to tag a garage door when Grady falls. Good Samaritans call the paramedics while Nick hides. The next day at school, the principal announces that Grady has died from a head injury. Nick’s mom figures out her son has been drinking alcohol and lying; Nick confesses to his mom about the tagging, stealing, and the night Grady died. With his mom’s support, Nick commits to making restitution for what he stole. The novel is meant to be easy to read to help students improve their reading skills, including those who are just learning English or have learning disabilities. To achieve this goal, Thompson uses short, simple sentences: “The sky is gray. The sidewalk is gray. Everything is gray.” Advanced readers may find the language too staccato, but readers who are working on improving their fluency may appreciate the short sentences for easy comprehension. (The text is set in OpenDyslexic Mono font, which is designed to increase readability for those with dyslexia.) Due to the difficult subject matter, the book is not a lot of fun, but readers overcoming difficulties with death, bad grades, alcohol, lying, or stealing will likely find it inspiring and hopeful.
A downbeat but ultimately hopeful story that shows a way out and up; suited for struggling readers.Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2022
ISBN: 9781737315742
Page Count: 122
Publisher: Bookstock Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 22, 2025
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
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
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