Review by Booklist Review
Actress Underwood (Little Fires Everywhere) and author Woodfolk (Nothing Burns as Bright as You, 2022) come together for this mystery involving a contemporary high-school activist. After being expelled from her mostly white private school, DC teen Jordyn lands at public Edgewood High. The students at the predominantly Black school, including an anonymous gossip podcaster, take notice. Determined to keep the reason for her private school departure under wraps, Jordyn and her new friends devise a plan to remove the power of the podcast by creating and promoting an anonymous secret-sharing website. But as school officials catch wind of their organizing, and the identity of the podcaster remains a mystery, the threat of Jordyn's past grows. A compelling case study in taking back power that teen readers can use as a blueprint, this combines the intriguing development of its complex main character with a mystery while depicting nuanced conversations around racism, forgiveness, and reclamation of power. Hand to readers seeking a non-murder mystery, particularly if they also enjoy books about social justice and influence.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Following her involvement in a tragedy at her former school that resulted in expulsion, high school junior Jordyn Jones is eager to start fresh. As she makes friends and crushes on Izaiah, her new school's artistic soccer star, she and others are dogged by a podcast called Tomcat Tea. The anonymously run show shares school rumors--both fact and fiction--for the joy of "wreaking havoc with gossip." After Jordyn is repeatedly targeted, she sets out to unmask the podcaster and take a stand against bullying--even as she endures escalating threats demanding that she publicize her own deep, dark secret. Intermittent flashbacks gradually reveal the events of Jordyn's past. Jordyn's struggles feel plausible and sometimes disturbing, and the often-serious subject matter is levied by engaging banter throughout. A heartfelt examination of issues surrounding bullying, complicity, social media, and redemption, this collaborative work by Woodfolk (The Beauty That Remains) and actor Underwood is teeming with suspense and ethical dilemmas that coalesce in a resolution that provokes further contemplation about the themes addressed. Jordyn is Black; supporting characters are queer and racially diverse. Ages 12--up. Agents: (for Woodfolk) Beth Phelan, Gallt & Zacker Literary; (for Underwood) Cait Hoyt, CAA and Katie Rhodes, Untitled Entertainment. (June)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--After being expelled from the exclusive private school she'd been attending, Jordyn Jones begins her junior year at a public high school in Washington, D.C. The difference is immediately obvious in the diversity of the students and the lax dress code. Jordyn feels she could fit in there, pursue her love of art, and make a clean start. But on day one, her past is already coming back to haunt her. A mysterious podcaster at the school releases a weekly gossip show, spilling juicy secrets that the targeted students would rather not have revealed. Jordyn's expulsion is the day's top story, but luckily, the podcaster doesn't seem to know any of the details, and she is able to make friends quickly. But trouble seems to find her even when she is trying to do the right thing. First her parents, and then even her new friends are quick to assume the worst. Jordyn never expected starting over to be easy, but wonders, if no one else is willing to give her a chance, how can she ever move beyond her past mistakes? The search for the mysterious podcaster, along with the gradual, but well-timed, reveal of Jordyn's expulsion keep the story moving in this character-driven novel. It features students of color as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. VERDICT An engaging story about self-esteem and choices that teen girls, especially, will appreciate.--Cary Frostick
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
After transferring to a new high school, an art-loving student faces the challenge of starting over in this collaboration between celebrated YA author Woodfolk and debut author and acclaimed actor Underwood. High school junior Jordyn Jones is eager for a new beginning. Yet, as a private school transfer student at Edgewood High, a much larger public school, she's already part of the rumor mill. The anonymous podcast Tomcat Tea, which shares school gossip, spills the news that Jordyn was actually expelled from stuffy Hartwell Academy. But this doesn't stop Jordyn, who's Black, from steadily building a rapport with others; she's eventually surrounded by a compelling circle of friends, including astute Mila and Izaiah, a high-performing soccer player whom she meets in detention. When Jordyn receives a hostile text from an unidentified sender who threatens to expose the truth about her, and Tomcat Tea takes a darker turn, she ultimately must decide if she's ready to become the person she's striving to be. This page-turner asks how people can reconcile with their pasts and begin anew. With a relatable protagonist and a diverse group of supporting characters who will have readers both laughing and giving side-eyes, this twisty, Gossip Girl--esque tale set in Washington, D.C., is full of surprises. The clean prose sparkles, especially when characters are at their most vulnerable. The dialogue is warm, funny, and even instructive at times. A rich, layered story about reconciliation and accountability with oneself and others. (Fiction. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
