Largely unmemorable, offering an onslaught of trauma with light at the end of the tunnel.
Picking up where the series opener left off, this graphic novel sequel finds Boo Meadows still dealing with her absent mother, who struggles with addiction, and her lack of a caring home environment.
Although her issues continue unabated, caring people in Boo’s life, including her boss, Clarice, her co-worker Milo, and her love interest, Mimi, are beginning to be aware of her dire straits. Bolstered by their support, Boo is finally able to chart a course that leads her away from her desperate situation and into a world that matches the optimism of her imagination, an aspect of her character that’s made plainly visible in the illustrations. When things reach a breaking point at home, Boo turns to Clarice, who takes on a motherly role in her life. In contrast to the almost unbearably terrible realities of Boo’s life, the happy ending may strike some readers as almost too perfect. Fans of the first book may enjoy this work, which covers issues including addiction, parental neglect and abuse, and queer-bashing. It's a quick, easy-to-devour read, but it unfortunately lacks emotional depth and forward momentum. The appealing, uncluttered artwork is executed mostly in shades of pink, mint green, and purple. Boo is shown in a body-positive way as a fat girl with stretch marks. She and Clarice present white, Mimi is cued Latine, and brown-skinned Milo is trans.
Largely unmemorable, offering an onslaught of trauma with light at the end of the tunnel. (Graphic fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781546110163
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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
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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