A zany and satisfying story for fans of YA tales that pack as much humor as they do heart.
A grand misunderstanding disrupts the lives of high school sweethearts in this YA novel.
Sophy Sharpley has to concoct a case study for her social studies class. But her best friend, Julie, has bigger problems, like the list of pros and cons about her boyfriend, Freddie, who she contemplates breaking up with. Sophy’s relieved that her relationship with Russ is thriving, believing they “will get married (someday) and live happily…and sensibly (one child, one cat).” She figures out a swell case study: she’ll examine teen dating habits, starting with Julie’s messy list. But when the list falls into Russ’ hands, he becomes convinced that Sophy wrote it about him, expressing her displeasure (“Not a good kisser!!!”). He embarks on a campaign to change her mind. He writes his own list about Sophy (“Bossy”), which his sister Angelica steals. At school, Russ tries to parse the list that he thinks Sophy wrote, showing it to Darren and Mark. They add to the confusion by telling him that the last item, McRib, is not a sandwich but a fetish. Julie provides her list to Freddie, the bully Bonce steals Russ’ list from Angelica, and Mark plasters fake lists around the school. When the list about Sophy is unfurled as a banner in the auditorium, chaos ensues as she dumps Russ, and the token of apology Freddie purchased (a cactus) becomes a symbol of revenge. The former lovers fall into a dating free-for-all until the truth comes out. Then the parties must decide whether to embrace their pros and cons to find happiness. Sophy’s class project appears throughout as case studies of certain couples, although the comedy of errors that befalls the heroine is far more intriguing. Sharman (Ignorance Risk Hope, 2016, etc.) offers many characters to keep track of, but the plot gallops along with a perfect mix of inside jokes and hilarious high jinks (Freddie reinvents himself as The Gladiator, with cactuses his signature weapon). In this delightful, quirky book, Sophy’s parents are present enough to illustrate that these teens’ lives don’t exist in a vacuum. The multiple narrators sometimes cause confusion (it’s unclear who Tekfin is), even as they amusingly profit from said lists. But the heartwarming and original final chapter focuses on the novel’s heroes, Sophy and Russ.
A zany and satisfying story for fans of YA tales that pack as much humor as they do heart.Pub Date: May 17, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5328-0184-6
Page Count: 168
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A young heroine copes with bizarre dreams in a surprisingly fresh paranormal romance.
This debut YA novel, the first installment in a series, follows an adopted teenager who moves to Alabama.
Jessica Delaney is accustomed to relocating at a moment’s notice, whenever neighbors find out a family secret. But the most recent move exudes an air of semi-permanence; the clan settles in Credence, Alabama, Jessica’s adoptive mother’s hometown. And her mom has a teaching position, not like the Waffle House waitress job she held in Atlanta. Moreover, Jessica lives next door to her aunt and her two cousins, Pade and Bailey. Both 15, Jessica and Bailey quickly become fast friends, with Bailey encouraging Jessica’s interest in her popular quarterback brother, Pade. Worried that the “ick” cousin factor is a bit strong, despite the fact she’s adopted, Jessica denies her attraction, particularly because it elicits the jealousy of bully Tosh Henley. Jessica also feels an immediate strong kinship with fellow new student Chase Pearson, although she suspects he and his teacher-mother are hiding something, even while he and Bailey become romantic quickly. Jessica’s concern that her father is concealing a recurrence of his cancer adds even more stress to her typical teenage angst, amplified by a typically bad adolescent decision that has life-changing consequences. While she experiences increasingly strange dreams related to her early childhood and adoption, a tragedy threatens her tenuous newfound security in Credence. Heavy-handed foreshadowing at the outset of this novel by engineer and native Alabamian Bolick sets the reader up for a far more ominous back story than Jessica’s forgotten early childhood. But the Delaneys’ decision to flee in the darkness of night seems unwarranted. Indeed, a few red herrings remain unresolved—Jessica’s parents’ insistence that everyone know she’s adopted, for example—whether by design or accident. Also unexplained is why her parents alter Jessica’s physical appearance, in light of their openness concerning her adoption. Despite these unanswered questions and a generally excessive emotional intensity (perhaps well-suited to a YA tale), this book remains an enjoyable page-turner that should leave readers eager to discover whether the promised sequel ties up all the loose ends.
A young heroine copes with bizarre dreams in a surprisingly fresh paranormal romance.Pub Date: Nov. 3, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-946089-01-4
Page Count: 276
Publisher: Dirt Road Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 28, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Nothing new, but a satisfactory story of finding happiness in difficult circumstances.
A young girl tries to find herself after moving to a new town in Parent’s debut YA novel.
Canadian high school freshman Beth Anderson feels like she’s been dropped to the bottom of the social ladder. After moving from the city of Ottawa, Ontario, to the small town of Pemberton, Nova Scotia, nothing seems to be going right. Her best friend, Elizabeth Archer, moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she’s growing distant and rebellious, and all the girls at Beth’s new school have separated into cliques. Beth’s father embarrasses her by wearing slippers in public, and her mother doesn’t seem to sympathize with her troubles. She feels tall and gawky compared with the other girls at school, and despairs over what she sees as her plainness. She’s certain that she’s not pretty enough to be worthy of the attention of Tristan Smith, a cute boy in school who’s caught her eye. She sees him as a puzzle, as he’s nice to her one day but ignores her the next. On top of everything, the most popular girl in the freshman class seems to have made it her mission to make Beth’s life miserable. Beth looks to small things to make her feel better; she makes a new friend, starts taking music lessons, and learns to enjoy long walks. But will these simple pleasures be enough to make her new life less miserable? This YA story offers a familiar tale of teenage angst that hits most of the standard tropes of the genre: a move to a new town, trouble making friends, a crush on a boy, bullying, and figuring out how to be true to oneself. That said, readers will still find it easy to empathize with Beth, as her process of self-discovery feels natural and unforced. Her plight is realistic and her solutions, while not novel, are certainly worth emulating. This book also feels well-paced, with the protagonist gaining emotional insights over time, rather than through quick fixes.
Nothing new, but a satisfactory story of finding happiness in difficult circumstances.Pub Date: Oct. 11, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4602-9365-2
Page Count: -
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: Nov. 29, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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