Thank you for visiting.
This content is exclusive to subscribers only.
As a digital subscriber, you’ll receive unlimited access to Horn Book web exclusives and extensive archives, as well as access to our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database.
To access other site content, visit The Horn Book homepage.
Log In
Don't have a Horn Book Account?
Register Now
Register Now
Quintero, Sofia
2 Reviews
(2)
YA
In 1983, Smiles and Nike are working as camp counselors in the South Bronx. As the summer goes on, neighborhood tensions build and secrets come to light, from budget concerns at camp to racial and religious conflicts. Told in alternating voices, the book features two fully realized narrators with complex lives, a memorable supporting cast, and a complete immersion in the early-eighties zeitgeist.
Reviewer: Sarah Hannah Gomez
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2015
(4)
YA
High school senior and valedictorian-to-be Efrain Rodriguez is caught between his dream of attending an Ivy League college and the reality of his South Bronx poverty. He turns to dealing drugs to fund his education; his eventual arrest and redemption come as no surprise. Gritty and emotionally affecting if somewhat contrived, the story confronts how societal expectations can influence behavior.
Reviewer: Carolyn Shute
2 reviews
We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.