Furious

The last place on earth Jojo Emerson-Boyd wants to be is stranded without a car or a driver's license in Dell's Hollow, North Carolina. Her Formula One dreams came screeching to a halt after her mother, world-famous race car driver DeeDee Emerson, died in a fiery crash. Eliana "El" Blum knows about loss, too. Max, her older sister, left home with no plans to return, and the occasional postcard provides little more than proof of life. A clue leading El to Jojo's grandmother's garage soon sets in motion a scheme inspired by The Fast & Furious franchise. Complete with street racing and a car heist, it is a worthy homage to Letty Ortiz--the girls' mutual crush. The chemistry between Jojo and El is undeniable, and their plan is less far-fetched than it sounds. Results are mixed, and there is disappointment and frustration, but for readers, the joy will surely be in the journey. Teens who like fast cars and simmering romance will appreciate this perfect beach read or road-trip sidekick.

Bisexual 17-year-old JoJo Emerson-Boyd's dreams of following in her NASCAR mother's footsteps are shattered when her mom dies in a crash. Now she lives in her mother's tiny hometown of Dell's Hollow, N.C., with her car-averse former mechanic father. Though she hopes to apply to the F1 Academy, her dad is reluctant to permit she get her license, so JoJo spends her time working at her grandmother Jolene's garage. There, she meets 17-year-old Eliana Blum, an overly cautious Jewish lesbian and certified Motorcycle Girl, whose rule following tendencies quickly endear her to JoJo. Entertaining quips and a mutual love of the Fast & Furious franchise may be what initially sparks their connection, but it's their shared sense of loss--JoJo's grappling with her mother's death and the loss of the sport that kept her family together, and El's struggling with the truth of her beloved sister's sudden departure--sets the girls up for a whirlwind romance based on understanding and empathy. This fast-paced read by Pacton (The Absinth Underground) and Podos (From Dust, a Flame), told via the teens' alternating perspectives, perceptively balances grief and levity in the form of an easy-to-root-for romance. Main characters are white. Ages 14--up. Agents: (for Pacton) Kate Testerman, KT Literary; (for Podos) Eric Smith, P.S. Literary. (June)

JoJo Emerson-Boyd and Eliana Blum have both lost someone close to them. JoJo is dealing with the recent tragic death of her world-famous mother, NASCAR champion DeeDee Emerson, who died in a crash, and Max, El's beloved older sister, was kicked out of their parents' house and has since disappeared. Not only that, Max mysteriously left her treasured R1 motorcycle and riding jacket behind. Thankfully, JoJo and El have two other things in common: an all-out obsession with the Fast & Furious film franchise and an intense love for racing. Just like her mother, JoJo races cars, and El's sister supported her in learning to race bikes. When El, looking for information about her sister, stops by the garage owned by JoJo's grandmother where El used to work, the chemistry between the two girls is instantaneous. As friendship and romance begin to grow, they execute a small-scale heist and embark on a wild motorcycle road-trip adventure in search of Max and a possible future together. The chapters switch between JoJo's and El's voices, which are sometimes difficult to distinguish. The plot-driven story contains some clunky language, and those not well versed in the film series' mythology may find the frequent Fast & Furious allusions tiring. The authenticity of the characters' emotions and the sweetness of their romance will surely capture many hearts, however. The main characters are white; El is Jewish. A high-speed queer romance. (authors' note) (Romance. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.