Page-turning action made even more engrossing by a rare emotional core.
Frey will do anything to find her twin sister as their father works to conquer more unsuspecting cities.
After once again assuming the role of her sister, Rafi, Frey toils in her father’s tower, easily fooling him and playing up the drama of her engagement to Col Palafox for the feeds. But she’s a prisoner; both she and Col wear bomb collars that will explode if they attempt escape. Meanwhile, Rafi has taken on the mantle of Frey, working with rebels in the wild who are demanding their father’s punishment. But their father has plans: He’s set his focus on the destruction of the city of Paz, the last place Rafi was seen. But once Frey and Col set out on their mission, it becomes clear that Rafi doesn’t want to be found. Even so, Frey will do anything to locate her, though she’ll have to confront the fact that maybe she doesn’t know her sister at all, and she certainly doesn’t know herself. Propelled by intricate worldbuilding and heart-pounding action, there’s never a dull moment. Frey’s journey to self-discovery takes the forefront, and it’s hard-won, thoughtful, and complex. Readers will jones for the next installment, eager to witness their heroine take on more thrilling adventures. As before, race is not defined in this European-inflected fantasy world. A nonbinary character has a larger presence in this book.
Page-turning action made even more engrossing by a rare emotional core. (Science fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-15041-4
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2019
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 book that seamlessly brings readers along on a journey of impact and empowerment.
A manifesto for budding feminists.
At the core of this engaging novel are besties Chelsea, who is Irish- and Italian-American and into fashion and beauty, and Jasmine, who is African-American, loves the theater, and pushes back against bias around size (“I don’t need your fake compliments, your pity. I know I’m beautiful. Inside and out”). They and their sidekicks, half-Japanese/half-Lebanese Nadine and Puerto Rican Isaac, grow into first-class activists—simultaneously educating their peers and readers. The year gets off to a rocky start at their progressive, social justice–oriented New York City high school: Along with the usual angst many students experience, Jasmine’s father is terminally ill with cancer, and after things go badly in both their clubs, Jasmine and Chelsea form a women’s rights club which becomes the catalyst for their growth as they explore gender inequality and opportunities for change. This is an inspiring look at two strong-willed teens growing into even stronger young women ready to use their voices and take on the world, imploring budding feminists everywhere to “join the revolution.” The book offers a poetic balance of dialogue among the main characters, their peers, and the adults in their lives. The exquisite pacing, which intersperses everyday teen conflicts with weightier issues, demonstrates how teens long to be heard and taken seriously.
A book that seamlessly brings readers along on a journey of impact and empowerment. (resources for young activists, endnotes) (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 12, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0008-3
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2019
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