Fizzy, funny and ultimately redemptive.
An unforgiveable email prank involving an elderly teacher forces 16-year-old Raina Resnick’s expulsion from her New York Jewish high school and banishment to Toronto to live with her strict aunt.
Poor school behavior and a knack for thoughtless action have fostered Raina’s negative reputation. She is somewhat unjustly blamed for her sister Leah’s broken engagement, and when she tries to make amends with a series of well-intended efforts, all seems to go awry. Somehow, this arrogant teen does have one positive, unusual talent for her age—matching hopelessly older singles clueless about dating protocol. In an attempt to drum up new prospective-husband material for Leah and repair their relationship, Raina creates an anonymous matchmaking website, Matchmaven. She secretly nurtures relationships and doles out advice for her tight-knit community, “where there’s only 1.1 degrees of separation,” which includes a financial consultant, an elderly widower and even her dragon lady of a school principal. This dual life, as the double-entendre title implies, ignites late-night escapades, failing grades and much scrutiny from school officials and family. Jewish readers attuned to the matrimonial expectations for observant youth will relate to Rosen’s cleverly metaphoric middle-class descriptions while chuckling at the often improbable, fast-paced shenanigans of her protagonist.
Fizzy, funny and ultimately redemptive. (Fiction. 13-16)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-77041-182-1
Page Count: 256
Publisher: ECW Press
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2014
The Phantom of the Opera served as inspiration, but this wouldn’t last on Broadway.
Stephanie and her family move into an old mansion rumored to have been put under a curse after a turn-of-the-20th-century rich boy meddled with an Egyptian mummy.
After her young sister complains about strange events, high school student Stephanie befriends Lucas, a geeky, good-looking boy, and meets the other members of SPOoKy, the Scientific Paranormal Organization of Kentucky: Charlotte, Wes, and Patrick. Stephanie learns the history of her new home from Lucas, who attracts her romantic attention, but the usually levelheaded girl is soon drawn to Erik, the handsome phantom who first comes to her in dreams. The story is told in chapters narrated by Stephanie, Lucas, and Zedok, whose identity is initially a source of confusion to Stephanie. Zedok appears wearing different masks, “personified slivers” of his soul, representing states of mind such as Wrath, Madness, and Valor. Meanwhile, until gifted singer Stephanie came along and he could write songs for her, Erik’s dreams were thwarted; he wanted to be a composer but his family expected him to become a doctor. In the gothic horror tradition, Erik’s full background and connection with Zedok are slowly revealed. Romantic dream sequences are lush and swoon-y, but the long, drawn-out battle to end the curse, aided by a celebrity clairvoyant, is tedious, and the constant introduction of Erik’s different personae is confusing. Most characters default to White; Patrick is Black.
The Phantom of the Opera served as inspiration, but this wouldn’t last on Broadway. (Horror. 13-16)Pub Date: Aug. 17, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-11604-3
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
Skip this uninspired entry into the world of medieval love and court intrigue.
In an imagined setting evoking medieval England, King Jameson of Coroa pursues Hollis Brite.
The independent teenager makes Jameson laugh, but she lacks the education and demeanor people expect in a queen. Her friend Delia Grace has more knowledge of history and languages but is shunned due to her illegitimate birth. Hollis gets caught up in a whirl of social activity, especially following an Isolten royal visit. There has been bad blood between the two countries, not fully explained here, and when an exiled Isolten family also comes to court, Jameson generously allows them to stay. Hollis relies on the family to teach her about Isolten customs and secretly falls in love with Silas, the oldest son, even though a relationship with him would mean relinquishing Jameson and the throne. When Hollis learns of political machinations that will affect her future in ways that she abhors, she faces a difficult decision. Romance readers will enjoy the usual descriptions of dresses, jewelry, young love, and discreet kisses, although many characters remain cardboard figures. While the violent climax may be upsetting, the book ends on a hopeful note. Themes related to immigration and young women’s taking charge of their lives don’t quite lift this awkwardly written volume above other royal romances. There are prejudicial references to Romani people, and whiteness is situated as the norm.
Skip this uninspired entry into the world of medieval love and court intrigue. (Historical romance. 13-16)Pub Date: May 5, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-06-229163-9
Page Count: 320
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: Feb. 4, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2020
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