A page-turner for reluctant readers.
Two teens barely survive the open seas.
Bass and Rosie shouldn’t skip school, “borrow” a boat, and take it out onto the water for a first date, but they’re newly infatuated with each other and want to take their budding relationship beyond the Pride Club at their school. What’s the worst that can happen? An unexpected storm, a shipwreck on an island—and dangers cascading from there. This short novel, intended for teenagers building their reading skills who are looking for an accessible, age-appropriate adventure, includes Bass’ occasional descriptions of the mechanics of his trans identity, including the use of binder tape and one unnecessary reference to his deadname. This element often feels shoehorned in, but overall, the suspense doesn’t let up, and readers watch Bass (who reads as default White) grow quickly from an anxious, shy youth to a young man of bravery, daring, and confidence as he battles both the elements and his own uncertainty. His date, Rosie (who has brown skin and wavy dark hair), is less well developed as a character, only seen through Bass’ adoring eyes, but the high-stakes romance between them is believable. The brevity of the text means that their larger social setting and backstory are left vague, but readers looking for a fast-paced and exciting perilous romance will come away satisfied.
A page-turner for reluctant readers. (Adventure. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 17, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4598-2851-3
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: June 10, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021
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
Exactly what the title promises.
A grieving teen’s devotion to romance films might ruin her chances at actual romance.
Liz Buxbaum has always adored rom-coms, not least for helping her still feel close to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was little. Liz hopes that her senior year might turn into a real-life romantic fantasy, as an old crush has moved back to town, cuter and nicer than ever. Surely she can get Michael to ask her to prom. If only Wes, the annoying boy next door, would help her with her scheming! This charming, fluffy concoction manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope, from fake dating to the makeover to the big misunderstanding. Creative, quirky, daydreaming Liz is just shy of an annoying stereotype, saved by a dry wit and unresolved grief and anger. Wes makes for a delightful bad boy with a good heart, and supporting characters—including a sassy best friend, a perfect popular rival, even a (not really) evil stepmother—all get the opportunity to transcend their roles. The only villain here is Liz’s lovelorn imagination, provoking her into foolish lies that cause actual hurt feelings; but she is sufficiently self-aware to make amends just in time for the most important trope of all: a blissfully happy ending. All characters seem to be White by default.
Exactly what the title promises. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6762-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK TO SCREEN
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