Romantic comedy that celebrates being yourself on your own terms.
A queer Black teen struggles with revealing her sexuality to her religious mom.
When Mahalia was 6, her mom promised her that she could have a Sweet 16 party, but it turns out there isn’t enough money for it this year. Mahalia is having a hard time accepting that—even though deep down she thinks complaining about it makes her a brat—but her best friend, Naomi, gets to have a big gala for her 16th birthday. Mahalia also doesn’t know how to come out to her mom. When she tells Naomi how frustrated she feels about needing to come out at all—why does society assume people are straight unless they say otherwise?—Naomi suggests she do things on her own terms and make a big splash. Inspired, Mahalia decides to save up for a coming-out party, complete with music, confetti, and a rainbow dress to celebrate her queerness. Between crushing on Siobhan, the new girl from Ireland (who has a boyfriend); struggling under the responsibility of paying the bills after her mom is laid off; and keeping up with SAT prep and homework, Mahalia doesn’t know if the party can even happen. Weighty topics are explored in lighthearted ways, including poverty, religion, and sexual and racial identity (Siobhan has a Black dad and White mum). This absorbing, appealing narrative is equal parts funny, romantic, and affirming.
Romantic comedy that celebrates being yourself on your own terms. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-43510-6
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVES
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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