A 2018 William C. Morris Award Finalist A New York Public Library 2017 Best Book for Teens “Dazzling.” –Bustle “One of the most compelling reads of the year.” –Paste Magazine “This book is a gem.” –BookRiot A gorgeous and emotionally resonant debut novel about a half-Japanese teen who grapples with social anxiety and her narcissist mother in the wake of a crushing rejection from art school. … anxiety and her narcissist mother in the wake of a crushing rejection from art school.
Kiko Himura has always had a hard time saying exactly what she’s thinking. With a mother who makes her feel unremarkable and a half-Japanese heritage she doesn’t quite understand, Kiko prefers to keep her head down, certain that once she makes it into her dream art school, Prism, her real life will begin.
But then Kiko doesn’t get into Prism, at the same time her abusive uncle moves back in with her family. So when she receives an invitation from her childhood friend to leave her small town and tour art schools on the west coast, Kiko jumps at the opportunity in spite of the anxieties and fears that attempt to hold her back. And now that she is finally free to be her own person outside the constricting walls of her home life, Kiko learns life-changing truths about herself, her past, and how to be brave.
From debut author Akemi Dawn Bowman comes a luminous, heartbreaking story of identity, family, and the beauty that emerges when we embrace our true selves.more
Starfish is a YA contemporary coming-of-age fiction with a little romance.
Kiko is about to graduate, but when her dream college doesn’t work out, she doesn’t know what to do. Living at home would be disastrous because of her narcissistic mom, and her dad isn’t an option either. Then a guy from her past returns and begins to help her overcome these struggles.
This book was a typical contemporary teen story of a girl who learns to overcome struggles like anxiety and parent issues while falling in love. This one in particular talked about how difficult it is to deal with a parent who is narcissistic and verbally, emotionally abusive. Poor Kiko couldn’t do anything right in her mom’s eyes, and even her half-Japanese heritage, which Kiko had no control over, was a source of her mom’s censure. It was pretty cool to see how Kiko grew through it with the help of her boyfriend and an adult mentor who had dealt with something similar. I hope it inspires and helps readers heal.
I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I love this book! Great for anyone looking for a good read that is sure to provoke thought. I love Kiko and her friends, and the lessons they taught me. Be sure to pick up this book at your next opportunity!
Kiko Himura has a narcissistic mother who has consistently beaten down her self confidence until she can only see herself through her mother’s eyes. Her only escape is through her art, something that she excels at and enjoys. Against her mothers wishes she applies to Prism, an art school, and sets all of her hopes and dreams upon getting in.
Despite her social anxiety Kiko’s best friend Emery talks her into going to a party where she runs into Jamie, the boy who was her best friend from childhood. He and his family had moved to California and their friendship had not survived the distance. Pretty quickly their friendship resumed but Jamie could see that this Kiko was not the same happy, friendly girl he had left behind years ago.
OK, I’ll be honest. This was a really difficult novel for me to read. Knowing a little bit about narcissistic relationships I recognized those signs immediately. However, my own relationship was not desperate and hurtful as Kiko’s was, but I could feel her pain because it easily could have been. It’s hard to read about a subject that is familiar and see that character take a different path than your own. I’ll admit that I was really frustrated with Kiko. I wanted her to be immediately stronger than she was but found the patience to keep reading because I wanted to see if she found her happy ending.
Jamie was just wonderful. As soon as he saw Kiko again he knew they were meant to be together. He was infinitely patient and old beyond his years, but then his household had it’s own difficulties. His treatment of this girl who was obviously fragile was to lend her his strength and the knowledge that despite everything he would be there for her, in whatever manner she desired. That is true love.
Although this was a difficult read for me, I did enjoy how the author slowly gave Kiko strength and through that she found her own self. I loved that.