An unusually raw, frank bildungsroman.
Tragedy, emotional conflicts, and uncertain prospects dog a teenager on the cusp of independence.
Birdseye constructs this outdoorsy outing around multiple metaphors, most notably that of a jigsaw puzzle, pieces of which fall down around 17-year-old Ren at a rate that threatens to bury him. Fleeing from his widowed, obnoxiously born-again mom to take refuge in the Cascade Range in Oregon with beloved big brother Levi doesn’t provide the security he hoped for. First, Levi dies tragically in an avalanche. Then Levi’s traumatized girlfriend, Ellie, disappears, leaving behind an alarming note after sliding into Ren’s bed for a night of ecstatic comfort. And just for a kicker, amid the resulting turmoil, the devastated teen manages to lose both of his part-time jobs. The title aptly conveys Ren’s gnawing fear and confusion, which readers will feel keenly as he frantically chases after Ellie while undertaking the understandably painful process of fitting the various parts of his life together into a recognizable self-image and a tentative personal road map. Some seemingly fragmentary pieces come together to help resolve unanswered questions, especially after a dramatic climax leads to sudden revelations and clarity. Better yet, at the end, the author leaves Ren credibly on his feet and moving forward. Main characters are cued white.
An unusually raw, frank bildungsroman. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781773069548
Page Count: 280
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
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
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
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