My Thoughts:
I appreciate the large influx of BIPOC and AAPI authors publishing YA. YA has come a long way to diversify its own offerings in the YA market so that diverse readers can actually see themselves in the literature that they read (mirrors, windows, sliding glass doors).
What I also appreciate is that this is not a novelty. Instead as readers and book talkers, we are able to create whole ladders of "next reads" using trusted BIPOC and AAPI authors. Tashie Bhuyian, author of Counting Down with You is a trusted YA romance writer now that this, her second book continues the themes of independent, strong females that hold their heart and anger on their sleeve and pretty boys with bad boy reputations and gooey centers.
Like Counting, Bhuyian includes an LGBTQ character (Mina's best friend) and a strong sibling relationship. The relationship with her immigrant parents is tough to watch but as a parent, I also feel for her parents who just are not sure how to navigate the teen years with a headstrong, very American daughter.
The romance with the Tom Holland inspired indie star, Emmitt Ramos is cute, but I really enjoyed the love story with New York. When teens are so angry at their parents that anywhere else seems like a haven, they sometimes don't appreciate the environment that they grew up in. Watching Mina fall in love again with New York through the eyes of Emmitt and his photos was actually the best romance that unfolded in this book. Time to plan a trip.
From the Publisher:
All Mina Rahman wants is to finally win the Golden Ivy student film competition, get into her dream school, and leave New York City behind for good. When indie film star Emmitt Ramos enrolls in her high school under a secret identity to research his next role, he agrees to star in her short film for the competition…if she acts as his NYC tour guide.
As Mina ventures across the five boroughs with Emmitt, the city she grew up in starts to look more like home than it ever has before. Suddenly, Mina’s dreams—which once seemed impenetrable—begin to crumble, and she’s forced to ask herself: Is winning worth losing everything?
As Mina ventures across the five boroughs with Emmitt, the city she grew up in starts to look more like home than it ever has before. Suddenly, Mina’s dreams—which once seemed impenetrable—begin to crumble, and she’s forced to ask herself: Is winning worth losing everything?
Publication Information:
Author: Tashie Bhuyian
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Publication date: May 10, 2022
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