A whimsical, enchanting, and celebratory read.
Seventeen-year-old Tabitha Laurie has been a devoted fan of Sommerland theme park since she was a little girl.
Tabi, who has dark brown skin and Afro-textured hair, believes in the magic Sommerland offers—including the promise of true love—especially after facing the shock of her parents’ divorce. After securing a position in the park’s summer program for high schoolers, Tabi is excited, declaring that “happily ever after begins with working at Sommerland.” But she quickly learns that other employees don’t feel the same enthusiasm and in fact have numerous complaints about the guests and work conditions. Despite this, Tabi dreams of becoming a character actor—in particular Princess Madeline, the brown-skinned princess she was thrilled to meet as a child. But she’s assigned to a nacho stand instead. She auditions for one of the coveted princess positions but quickly learns that “there are no fat princesses in Sommerland.” As Tabi navigates her feelings of insecurity, she tries not to lose her sense of the park’s magic. The bright, colorful illustrations, which emphasize the characters’ emotions, set the stage for a delightfully affirming story of learning to accept yourself despite what others may say. Even with the very quick pacing, the storytelling is strong. Meyer explores themes of body positivity and bullying as Tabi contends with cutting comments about her size but ultimately creates and spreads joy with support from those who value her as she is.
A whimsical, enchanting, and celebratory read. (Graphic fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9781250379399
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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
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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