Raw and relevant; a book that belongs in the hands of any reader anxious about a new chapter.
A Long Island teen faces a tumultuous year.
In this stand-alone graphic novel, Esther “Essie” Rosen begins her senior year of high school with everything going for her: She’s dating handsome neighbor boy Bruno and is preparing her audition for the Tisch School of the Arts, which she hopes will lead to her dream of living in New York City near her best friend, who’s attending Columbia. But after her English teacher assigns a journal project spanning the full school year, Essie’s entries lead to a realization that her seemingly perfect life may be a carefully constructed facade. As events fail to unfold as planned, Essie must forge a new path for herself—even if it means defying her family’s and her own expectations when she falls for Christopher, a boy with a complicated link to her brother, whose difficulties challenge their mother’s insistence that “everything has to be perfect.” With its visceral, palpable angst, Miller’s tale will resonate with readers who have been at a crossroads. Beem’s dreamy blue-hued illustrations with watercolor flourishes are both alluring and stylish, bringing a decidedly cinematic feel. While the story contains elements of romance, it eschews a simple happily-ever-after resolution, and Essie’s final choices will stay with readers long after the final page is turned. Essie, who’s fat, is Jewish and presents white, Bruno reads Black, and Christopher is Chinese American.
Raw and relevant; a book that belongs in the hands of any reader anxious about a new chapter. (Graphic fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781250822307
Page Count: 256
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2025
PERSPECTIVES
A heartfelt romance with emotionally intelligent characters that focuses on the power of community and connection.
Two teenagers face challenges at the start of 12th grade.
Sabrina is focusing on what she can control, like making the seniors’ last year together at Hamilton Lakes High one to remember through her work on the Spirit Committee. Tyler, on the other hand, is grateful to have another opportunity to play football after transferring to Hamilton Lakes his senior year. Determined to fulfill her “Spirit Committee duty,” Sabrina reaches out to welcome Tyler to his new school, which leads to a mutually beneficial agreement to go to homecoming together “just as friends” (they’re both trying to evade unwanted romantic interests). Their friendship grows, and they support each other through Sabrina’s feelings about her parents’ recent divorce and Tyler’s fear that regrettable past behavior will negatively affect his future prospects. This heartwarming friends-to-lovers narrative has characters who will capture readers’ hearts and minds with their depth and intriguing backstories. The white-presenting leads’ alternating narration allows events to unfold through delightful banter and romantic tension that emphasizes the importance of strong communication. By leaning on each other and their teammates, Sabrina and Tyler show that you don’t have to do things on your own. This stand-alone companion to Heart Check (2025) maintains all the spirit and sincerity of the earlier entry without feeling formulaic or repetitive.
A heartfelt romance with emotionally intelligent characters that focuses on the power of community and connection. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
ISBN: 9781665985383
Page Count: 304
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
A winning game of feelingsball.
A former football star, who never thought she’d play again after she came out as transgender, steps back onto the field for one last season to help her team win state.
Grace Woodhouse used to know where she belonged. She had Division I schools lined up to recruit her, but that was before what happened during playoffs last year, before she came out as trans, and before she quit the team. Although her single father and new friend group support her, Grace feels lost as her senior year begins. When one of her old teammates asks her to help him with his technique, she quickly realizes that he and the other captains are hoping for more than her expertise from the sidelines—they want her to rejoin the team. Grace can’t resist the opportunity to play again, but her return draws unwanted national attention that makes her question her future and who she wants to be. Flashback chapters written in the second-person present tense bring Grace’s past to life, which helps maintain momentum and makes her emotional journey feel more immersive. A heartfelt, goofy, and diverse cast of secondary characters surround Grace, who’s white, as she navigates self-doubt, friendship, complicated feelings for her ex-girlfriend, and what she wants to do after graduation. Overall, this coming-of-age sports narrative is honest, gentle, and hopeful.
A winning game of feelingsball. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781646145027
Page Count: 344
Publisher: Levine Querido
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
PERSPECTIVES
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