An attempt at a modern-day “Beauty and the Beast” that doesn’t live up to its promise.
On the same day that skinny Konrad Wolnik wakes up with a brand-new football-player body, popular beauty Camilla Hadi finds she now has a deformed face and body.
Konrad and Camilla live in a world where Inexplicable Developments like theirs are common, but never before have two happened at the same time, in the same city, and taken such astronomically different forms. At school, Konrad and Camilla quickly learn that looks only hold the power you give them. As Konrad steps into his new role as the popular kid, Camilla sees only one explanation for her sudden transformation and sets off to get revenge on Konrad by making him the most despised kid at their school. But things take a twist when the two start spending time together and quickly realize they have more in common than meets the eye. As the homecoming dance draws closer, both Konrad and Camilla begin to learn exactly what they wished for on the night of their transformations. Unfortunately, the writing is a bit dry and the plot slow-moving, and the critique of a culture that focuses on appearances is rather weak and doesn’t fully deal with the inherent sexism that underpins societal norms. Camilla is white American and Turkish, Konrad is Polish-American, and there is diversity in secondary characters.
An attempt at a modern-day “Beauty and the Beast” that doesn’t live up to its promise. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 14, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5107-3210-0
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2018
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
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
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