by Vitor Martins ; translated by Larissa Helena ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 2022
A sweet, introspective story about queer teens.
A character-driven book translated from Portuguese about making your home where your heart is.
Told in timelines set decades apart, the novel follows the lives of three teen residents of 8 Sunflower St. in the fictional rural Brazilian city of Lagoa Pequena. Expressing itself in a delightful voice, the narrator is the house itself; through it, readers get to know Ana, Greg, and Beto. In the 2000 storyline, Ana is a lesbian with a girlfriend who still hasn’t worked up the nerve to come out to her dad. Just when things are starting to look up, she finds out that they are moving to Rio de Janeiro for his new job. In 2010, Greg is sent to his aunt’s house while his divorcing parents work through things. Awkwardly, the person he feels closest to is the young woman who works as his plastic surgeon father’s personal assistant. But in this new place, Greg meets someone new: Tiago, another gay teen who may or may not fit into his plan of finally having his first kiss. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic starts, and Beto is stuck with his mother and sister, navigating his complicated relationships with them. He’s also trapped in a city he hates for the narrow gender roles the residents perpetuate. The reflective stories offer different perspectives on the lives and struggles of the protagonists, with heartfelt moments that readers who appreciate quiet books will enjoy.
A sweet, introspective story about queer teens. (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-81864-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: PUSH/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2022
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by Vitor Martins ; translated by Larissa Helena
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PERSPECTIVES
by Kathleen Glasgow ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 30, 2016
This grittily provocative debut explores the horrors of self-harm and the healing power of artistic expression.
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New York Times Bestseller
After surviving a suicide attempt, a fragile teen isn't sure she can endure without cutting herself.
Seventeen-year-old Charlie Davis, a white girl living on the margins, thinks she has little reason to live: her father drowned himself; her bereft and abusive mother kicked her out; her best friend, Ellis, is nearly brain dead after cutting too deeply; and she's gone through unspeakable experiences living on the street. After spending time in treatment with other young women like her—who cut, burn, poke, and otherwise hurt themselves—Charlie is released and takes a bus from the Twin Cities to Tucson to be closer to Mikey, a boy she "like-likes" but who had pined for Ellis instead. But things don't go as planned in the Arizona desert, because sweet Mikey just wants to be friends. Feeling rejected, Charlie, an artist, is drawn into a destructive new relationship with her sexy older co-worker, a "semifamous" local musician who's obviously a junkie alcoholic. Through intense, diarylike chapters chronicling Charlie's journey, the author captures the brutal and heartbreaking way "girls who write their pain on their bodies" scar and mar themselves, either succumbing or surviving. Like most issue books, this is not an easy read, but it's poignant and transcendent as Charlie breaks more and more before piecing herself back together.
This grittily provocative debut explores the horrors of self-harm and the healing power of artistic expression. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-101-93471-5
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2016
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by K.L. Walther ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 4, 2021
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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by K.L. Walther
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