Lovely writing but a bit of a missed opportunity.
A synesthete in a medieval priory confronts the plague.
Edyth, 16 in the year 1348, is sent by Lord Geoffrey, to whom she’s bound, to Saint Christopher’s Priory after her family dissolves. As a lay sister, she’s expected to work for the nuns, not take vows, but she’s not permitted to leave, even when a young man from her village comes in hopeful pursuit. Edyth’s talent for drawing lands her first in the scriptorium, preparing pigments, and later illuminating manuscripts. Edyth feels, smells, and hears in color with overwhelming intensity. Her unusual abilities caused her to be distrusted in her village, and now she’s seen as a possible prophet by the nuns—or, perhaps, cursed. When the plague reaches Yorkshire, locals flock to the priory in desperate waves, seeking medical aid. Then the story veers from grounded reality to mysticism, as Edyth finds a magic spring of healing water. Stamper illustrates the novel with her own spare, evocative, full-color drawings, bringing Edyth’s synesthesia to vivid life. The story starts out strong but falters—many details dwelt upon in the beginning fade to nothingness, and the magical realism seems out of place: Since Stamper goes to lengths to show that Edyth’s neurodivergence is a normal variant, later developments feel disingenuous. Some of the side characters come across as caricatures, and the plot doesn’t quite hold together.
Lovely writing but a bit of a missed opportunity. (glossary, author’s note, translations, maps) (Historical fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5247-0041-6
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2020
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
Summery fun and games with feeling.
A summer trip helps break 18-year-old Meredith Fox out of a haze of mourning.
Her cousin’s wedding means a return to Martha’s Vineyard, a well-loved destination but one filled with bittersweet memories. It’s been a year and a half since the sudden loss of Meredith’s sister, Claire, and the grief remains strong. Meredith, though, resolves to take this time to celebrate family and bridge the rifts resulting from ghosting friends. She didn’t plan on a meet-cute/embarrassing encounter with the groom’s stepbrother, Wit. Nor did she expect a wedding-week game of Assassin, a water-gun–fueled family tradition. What starts off as a pact of sharing strategic information with Wit grows into something more as the flirting and feelings develop. Only one person can win, though, and any alliance has an expiration date. To win and honor Claire, who was a master of the game, Meredith must keep her eye on the prize. Taking place over the course of a week, the narrative is tight with well-paced reveals that disrupt predictability and keep the plot moving. Early details are picked back up, and many elements come satisfyingly full circle. The short time frame also heightens the tension of this summer romance: What will happen when they leave the bubble of the Vineyard? The mix of budding romance, competitive hijinks, a close-knit circle, as well as dealing with loss make for a satisfying read. The main cast is White.
Summery fun and games with feeling. (family tree) (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-72821-029-2
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
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