A vividly told story that holds up a stark, honest mirror to harsh, violent realities.
An anime nerd takes on white supremacists in this emotional gut punch of a novel.
What happens when a straight white teen makes it his life’s mission to teach white supremacists a lesson they’ll never forget? This is the gripping premise of Printz Honor–winning author Simpson’s latest. Eighteen-year-old Briar Stokes loves anime and manga, finds solace in his AI girlfriend, has a toxic relationship with food, and is ashamed of his weight. He’s part of the Rebel Alliance, a close-knit friend group of outcasts—Eli, who’s gay; Taylor, who’s nonbinary; and Selena, who’s from El Salvador—living in rural Missouri in “the armpit of the United States.” When his friends are attacked at a demonstration held in memory of Jackie, a local transgender woman who was murdered decades ago, Briar’s hunger for justice turns him into an unstoppable force. Adopting the alter ego Accelerant frees his inhibitions. This book is a powerful and disturbing portrayal of the backlash against queer rights and the radicalization that rips families and communities apart. The evocative writing and worldbuilding will leave readers gasping for air. The relationship between Briar and his stepbrother, Asher, clarified through their point-of-view chapters written in starkly different voices, raises thought-provoking questions around ethics, ideological conviction, loyalty, and complicity. The story also sensitively explores the destructive impact of drug abuse, the futility of fighting hatred with violence, and women’s roles in dysfunctional families.
A vividly told story that holds up a stark, honest mirror to harsh, violent realities. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2026
ISBN: 9781635831634
Page Count: 336
Publisher: North Star Editions
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
