A spare, tightly written exploration of the effects of incarceration on families.
A teenage boy struggles with shame, isolation, and the unraveling of his family after his father is imprisoned for arson in Thompson’s YA novel.
Miles’ life starts to unravel the day he sees his dad’s workplace, Lundy’s Barbecue, ablaze on the local news. Things only worsen when it’s revealed that the fire wasn’t a tragic accident—the owner paid Miles’ dad $5,000 to set it in a desperate bid for insurance money. But their plan goes awry when a firefighter is horrifically injured on the scene during the building’s collapse. Despite pleading guilty to the crime, Miles’ father is given the maximum 10-year sentence, more than double what his lawyer predicted. For Miles, any hope that things will blow over soon is shattered. The first thing the verdict affects is his schoolwork. He’s distracted in class, turning in half-done assignments or nothing at all, and his dipping grades may jeopardize his upcoming basketball tryouts. Unable to maintain focus, he’s not doing much better on the court. Broken into short, punchy chapters, the novel uses simple language to take on complicated topics—incarceration, guilt, emotional isolation—with clarity and heart. Miles’ voice is raw and real, unpolished in a way that rings true. Like grief, shame has no script, and the story captures that emotional uncertainty with precision. The writing never overexplains or dips into sentimentality; Thompson trusts the reader to feel the weight between the lines as Miles endures depressing visits at the county jail (“I want to see Dad. But I don’t want to go inside”), conducts internet searches on life in prison, and suffers the ache of watching a parent fall from grace. And yet, there are moments of levity and hope, such as making the basketball team (having friends who remain by his side, Miles slowly learns that he doesn’t have to carry everything alone). Despite some writing that’s a little too on the nose, this is a powerful, well-paced story.
A spare, tightly written exploration of the effects of incarceration on families.Pub Date: May 29, 2024
ISBN: 9798989065790
Page Count: 120
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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