Norris’ ego, fueled by his insecurities, often gets in the way of meaningful character development. He’s greeted in his new life by an assortment of acquaintances, Liam, who is white and struggling with depression Maddie, a self-sacrificing white cheerleader with a heart of gold and Aarti, his Indian-American love interest who offers connection. His professor mom’s new tenure-track job transplants Norris mid–school year, and his biting wit and sarcasm are exposed through his cataloging of his new world in a field guide–style burn book. Norris Kaplan, the protagonist of Philippe’s debut novel, is a hypersweaty, uber-snarky black, Haitian, French-Canadian pushing to survive life in his new school. Will both entertain and encourage reflection.Ī teenage, not-so-lonely loner endures the wilds of high school in Austin, Texas.
The atmospheric setting is a particular strength, and the twists and turns will keep readers in suspense. This promising debut deals with themes around rebellion and empowerment as well as the toll that rejecting the status quo can take on relationships.
As the two grew closer-and sparks fly-they discover secrets that could end Manford’s cruel reign. There she meets rebellious Constance, an attractive young red-haired woman with a very personal motivation for sabotaging the monarchy. After fleeing the ball, Sophia stumbles across Cinderella’s mausoleum, hidden in the woods. While racial diversity is a natural part of this world, the same acceptance does not exist for those who defy rigid gender norms: Anything other than heterosexual desire is strictly forbidden, and while Sophia wishes to escape as a couple, Erin is too fearful. Sophia is a beautiful Black girl in love with dark-haired Erin, one of her best friends. But being chosen can be its own curse in a society where domestic violence is common. Any young woman who has not been claimed after her third ball is destined to spend the rest of her days engaged in hard labor. Sophia is turning 16, the age at which young women must attend King Manford’s annual ball, at which they are scrutinized by and married off to male attendees. In Mersailles, “Cinderella” is more than just a fairy tale: It’s the basis for a harsh monarch’s throttlehold on his kingdom.
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