A candid morality tale that reminds kids of the power that comes from thinking for one’s self.
A struggling high schooler learns to trust himself as he breaks away from everything that is holding him back in Thompson’s YA novel.
Brady Judd is a 10th grader at Edison High School who lives with his hardworking grandmother. Encouraged by his “friends” Hector and Carlton, Brady has begun to skip class and, as a result, his grades are plummeting. When the trio decides to drink alcohol under the school’s football stadium bleachers, Brady is the only one who gets caught. Sentenced to two weeks of cleanup crew with the elderly Mr. Damon, Brady doesn’t see a reason to change his self-destructive ways. That all changes when his grandmother is diagnosed with Parkinson’s and forced into an early retirement. The shocking diagnosis, combined with a teacher’s encouraging note (“Keep thinking for yourself and be strong”) pushes Brady to reconsider what he wants out of his life. He distances himself from Hector and Carlton, begins regularly attending class, and strikes up a friendship with the studious Faye. When tragedy strikes, Brady will have to draw upon all of his inner strength to help those around him who need it most. The text’s simple vocabulary and sentence structure makes it ideal for early to middle-grade readers. While the dialogue is painfully stiff at times (“I was scared about your future. But you have come a long way”), Brady’s inspirational journey of self-discovery makes it easy to overlook. Thompson also explores generational trauma through the youthful troubles of Brady’s own mother, which adds nuance to an otherwise straightforward tale. Brady’s decision to ditch his friends doesn’t come easily, but it almost immediately results in drastic life improvements (better grades, a genuine friend in Faye, a special award). While the rewards come a little too quickly to be completely realistic, the story succeeds in its heartfelt mission to spur young readers to stand up for themselves.
A candid morality tale that reminds kids of the power that comes from thinking for one’s self.Pub Date: April 16, 2025
ISBN: 9781964809038
Page Count: 122
Publisher: Finding Forward Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 6, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told.
The 17-year-old son of a troubled rock star is determined to find his own way in life and love.
On the verge of adulthood, Blade Morrison wants to leave his father’s bad-boy reputation for drug-and-alcohol–induced antics and his sister’s edgy lifestyle behind. The death of his mother 10 years ago left them all without an anchor. Named for the black superhero, Blade shares his family’s connection to music but resents the paparazzi that prevent him from having an open relationship with the girl that he loves. However, there is one secret even Blade is unaware of, and when his sister reveals the truth of his heritage during a bitter fight, Blade is stunned. When he finally gains some measure of equilibrium, he decides to investigate, embarking on a search that will lead him to a small, remote village in Ghana. Along the way, he meets people with a sense of purpose, especially Joy, a young Ghanaian who helps him despite her suspicions of Americans. This rich novel in verse is full of the music that forms its core. In addition to Alexander and co-author Hess’ skilled use of language, references to classic rock songs abound. Secondary characters add texture to the story: does his girlfriend have real feelings for Blade? Is there more to his father than his inability to stay clean and sober? At the center is Blade, fully realized and achingly real in his pain and confusion.
A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told. (Verse fiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-310-76183-9
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Blink
Review Posted Online: April 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2017
PERSPECTIVES
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