August 16, 2021
It’s 1987 in Venice, Calif., and 10-year-old Beatrice “Bug” Contreras, who is of Salvadoran descent, is certain that her summer has been ruined when her older brother Dannysuddenly insists on being called Daniel and needs space from Bug and their beach-going routine. Stuck at home with their downstairs landlady and their upstairs neighbor Phillip’s nephew Frankie, a white 11-year-old visiting from Ohio, Bug is at first reluctant to befriend the newcomer. But the mystery of the Midnight Marauder, a serial killer at large in their community, draws them together as they create a map to root out the murderer. Their focus shifts, however, when Phillip is physically attacked and the details of the incident don’t add up. During a summer of change and big realizations, Bug learns vital and sometimes painful lessons about the power of embracing her true self and meeting people where they are. Forman (We Are Inevitable) tenderly depicts a girl whose understanding—of identity, sexuality, and prejudice—is rapidly expanding, and whose chosen family provides a safe, loving space in which to navigate her experiences and learn to show up as an ally. Ages 8–12. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret.
Starred review from August 1, 2021
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* In 1987 Venice Beach, 10-year-old Bug's (Beatrice) summer excitement gets squashed when her brother, Danny, decides he wants to spend his time with his friends, not his kid sister. Now she's stuck hanging with her neighbor's nephew, Frankie, who's visiting from the Midwest. Bug hates being treated like a baby and dealing with a kid who doesn't even want to go to the beach! As the summer wears on, she deals with challenging but eye-opening situations, such as understanding that Frankie is a boy even though his family says he's a girl, learning that her neighbor has been attacked because he is gay, and accepting that her grandparents disowned her mother for loving Bug's Salvadoran father. Forman has skillfully and sensitively moved into the middle-grade arena, crafting a picture of a time when being oneself was not always simple or easily defined and when, as now, the presence of good friends and allies could make or break you. Through Bug's innocent perspective, Forman illuminates the pains and injustices suffered by so many, and readers will avidly watch this young girl stand up to skinheads and relatives, discovering that "family" are those who have your back, love you without conditions, and allow you to be who you are. The characterizations, setting, and messaging are genuine and heart-tugging, making this a must-read. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Best-seller Forman's first foray into middle-grade fiction is buzzing, ensuring it has a sizable audience before the inevitable second wave of new young fans rushes the circ desk.
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September 1, 2021
When Bug's traditional summer routine is shaken up, her entire life changes. It's 1987, and 10-year-old Beatrice "Bug" Contreras has a plan: spend her summer months with her brother, Danny, on Venice Beach as she has for the past two years. But when 14-year-old Danny--who has matured into the name Daniel--wants more time to himself, Bug learns she will be instead hanging out with 11-year-old Frankie, the nephew of Phillip, her mother's best friend and their upstairs neighbor. Frankie, who is visiting from Ohio, is trans at a time before this identity was well understood and has not been treated with kindness or acceptance by his parents. Frankie and Bug become fascinated with trying to solve the case of the Midnight Marauder, a serial killer who has been striking in the area. When Phillip is attacked, ending up in the hospital, their investigation swivels, and the titular characters uncover a few untold family tales. Bug and Daniel's late father was a professor from El Salvador with Indigenous ancestry who spoke Nahuatl as well as Spanish and English. Biracial identity is explored in part through the differences in the siblings' physical appearances: Their mother is implied to be White, and Daniel--who resembles their father more than Bug does--experiences more overt racism and dives into an exploration of his Salvadoran heritage. Readers interested in complex emotional development and relationships will appreciate each character's subtle nuances. Superb storytelling. (resources, author's note) (Fiction. 9-11)
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Starred review from October 1, 2021
Gr 5 Up-A heartwarming tale of friendship set in 1987. Beatrice, Bug for short, is devastated to find out her summer won't go as planned. Instead of going to the beach with her brother Danny, Bug must be babysat by her upstairs neighbors, Phillip and Hedvig. Her mother's promise that she will redeem her summer comes in the form of Phillip's nephew, Frankie, coming to visit. Bug thinks she'll finally have someone to go to the beach with, but she quickly realizes Frankie doesn't enjoy the same things she does and has his own interests, such as the Midnight Marauder, a serial killer on the loose in Los Angeles. To Bug's surprise, she enjoys helping Frankie with the hunt for the Midnight Marauder, and they grow close enough for Frankie to reveal his secret-he was born a girl, even though he has always felt like a boy. In the beginning of the story Bug is self-centered and whiny, which may lead readers to dislike her, but Frankie brings about a positive change in her behavior that makes her character more enjoyable to follow. Difficult themes such as racism and homophobia are included in the narrative, and how Bug comes to realize these things exist in the world is realistic and heartbreaking. Bug and her brother are Salvadoran and Hedvig is Hungarian. VERDICT Forman has crafted a beautiful and important coming-of-age tale with just a bit of mystery thrown in. A must-have for middle grade libraries.-Lisa Buffi, Sterling M.S., VA
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