An enjoyable, fast-paced, and topical take on prom drama.
A novelization of the Broadway musical of the same name.
After dating for more than a year, two seniors in a racially homogeneous high school in a small town in Indiana face challenges in attending their prom. Emma, who came out as gay on her YouTube channel the summer before ninth grade, has already endured classmates’ bullying and disownment by her parents. Alyssa, who privately identifies as lesbian, is deeply afraid of disappointing her mother and so the girls have kept their relationship a secret. Alternating first-person chapters effectively reveal their inner thoughts, creating well-drawn protagonists who are easy to root for. When the school learns that Emma plans to bring a girl to the prom, all hell breaks loose. Leading the charge is the PTA president, Alyssa’s controlling and conservative mother. At this juncture, due to a YouTube post by Emma, an unlikely but delightful twist occurs: Two broadly stereotypical Broadway actors (smarting from a recent critical failure) show up to save the day, support Emma—and gain some publicity. The author teamed up with the musical’s composer, lyricist, and playwright to create a satisfying story that celebrates the magic of first love in beautiful and apt prose, skewers homophobia with cleverness, and provides hope through the redemption of several unpleasant characters. The novel is completely accessible without seeing the musical that inspired it. Emma is white and Alyssa is brown-skinned with auburn hair.
An enjoyable, fast-paced, and topical take on prom drama. (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-984837-52-3
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 12, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
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
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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