★ 2022-08-17
Two teens—a super fan and a celebrity musician—confront their insecurities about their relationships and identities as their lives unexpectedly intertwine.
Fereshteh (or Angel as she’s known online, a translation of her Farsi name), is a Persian British hijabi who lives for The Ark, a boy band rising to international fame. Before the final show of their tour, Fereshteh ditches her high school leavers’ ceremony to fulfill her dream of seeing them in concert with Juliet Schwartz, a White online friend she’s meeting for the first time—but when she arrives in London, her high expectations are derailed by reality. Jimmy Kaga-Ricci, a gay Christian transgender boy of Indian and Italian descent, greets his fans from a distance. On the inside, he’s overwhelmed by anxiety. His emotions spiral out of control when the press exposes too much about his relationships. This irresistibly energetic coming-of-age story alternates between the perspectives of two emerging adults grappling with their senses of self. Fereshteh values The Ark more than her own achievements, while Jimmy questions whether he can keep sacrificing his happiness for his career. Love takes center stage in the unfolding drama, showcasing the complex and varied experiences of admiration, attraction, and connection within relationships, particularly friendships. Religious faith also plays an important role in the protagonists’ lives, shaping their outlooks and decisions. The characters are multidimensional with flaws and goals that direct their growth.
A magnetic, emotional journey with nuanced internal conflict and dynamic characters. (bonus story) (Fiction. 14-18)
