Review by Booklist Review
Half-Japanese, half-white 16-year-old Elijah Jensen is into biking, history, and being a good big brother to his little brother, Joshie. When some friends introduce him to a THC vape, he quickly spirals into a pattern of addiction and bad choices. Kadohata takes an unflinching look at what addiction does to the person using drugs, their friendships, and their family. As Elijah's behavior becomes more erratic, his parents place him in a treatment program, which he does not take seriously until a life-changing event occurs that causes him to realize the true cost of addiction. Elijah's family is supportive and does everything possible to try to get him off drugs. The narrative effectively draws parallels between Elijah's trials with drug addiction and the experiences of family members who served in the military. Situations involving sexual acts in exchange for drugs and mentions of sexual abuse may make this title best suited for older readers. A realistic but necessary portrait of teenage addiction.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this intense novel about substance reliance from Kadohata (Saucy), a teenager in Southern California chronicles how his vaping habit influences his life and relationships. Sixteen-year-old Elijah Jensen's innate curiosity propels his interest in studying regional and world history, something that helps him understand more about his own family and their Japanese and hapa ancestry. When he one day connects with classmate Lee while biking at the beach, the two teens become fast friends and bond over their similar family backgrounds. After Lee breaks his leg and Elijah runs for help, they encounter another classmate, Banker, who helps Elijah and Lee in their time of need--and later gives them access to his vape pen. Hoping to escape the mounting pressures of being a "good kid," Elijah becomes increasingly dependent on THC and nicotine, and grows more disconnected from his parents, his younger brother, his friends, and himself. The story's sweeping series of interconnected moments, relayed in Elijah's fluid stream-of-conscious narration, dip into on-the-nose messaging. Still, Elijah's drive to stay connected to his life amid his wrestling with substance use makes for an insightful and admirable telling. Ages 14--up. (Apr.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Elijah, 16, is a multiracial Japanese American high schooler living in a suburban California beach town with his parents and five-year-old brother, Joshie. He's a strong student, thinking about college, though not among the very highest achievers. He's into stunt biking and hanging with his Asian American crew and helping Joshie learn how to ride a bike. And he loves history, winning several essay competitions for his thoughtful research. Almost from the very start, the story takes a dark turn. Elijah is experimenting with drugs, along with longtime best friend Lee, the smartest kid in school, and Banker, a high school graduate who seems always to be up to something suspicious. At first, they're vaping THC and hanging out in Banker's room. But Newbery-medalist Kadohata spools out a harrowing, slow-motion catastrophe that can be difficult to continue once readers see where it's headed. Before long, Elijah is boosting pain pills from his grandfather and the boys are buying Percocet and Xanax, eventually stealing to feed their habit, setting up a devastating conclusion. While the story is not unremittingly harsh, extensive drug use and several references to sexual abuse make it more suitable for high school readers. Elijah's love interest, Lee's sister Su-Bee, is well developed but a relatively small part of the plot. Nearly all of the major characters are of Asian descent. VERDICT A cautionary tale wrapped in a vivid slice of contemporary life, recommended for high school collections.--Bob Hassett
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An unflinching account of a teenager's descent into drug addiction. Elijah Jensen, who's Japanese and white and identifies as hapa, is a stellar older brother and an award-winning history buff who's obsessed with mountain biking. His sunny California existence is pretty tranquil, and he's on track for success, but everything changes once he becomes friends with Lee Young Fang, proficient mountain biker and "the smartest kid at the high school"--Richard Feynman is his hero. Elijah is in awe of Lee; they bond over commonalities, including being the sons of Asian moms who place intense pressure on them to excel. When Lee breaks his leg while doing a trick on his bike in a rural area with no cell service, Elijah runs for help and finds classmate Banker, an older kid who has a bad reputation at school. Elijah picks up the vape pen that falls out of Banker's pocket when he's helping Lee and later takes a puff--the proverbial gateway drug. It's a pivotal moment in the narrative; soon after, both Elijah's and Lee's lives spiral terribly out of control under the influence of Banker. Kadohata writes the intimate moments of friendship between Lee and Elijah with sensitivity and critiques the toll the pursuit of perfection takes on young people. Unfortunately, many passages that follow Elijah's spinning thoughts fail to move the story forward and require patience from readers. An unevenly paced work that's harrowing, relentless, and so very heartbreaking.(Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
