This Might Hurt a Bit

April 1, 2019
An angry teen works out his issues. Tomorrow will be the 1-year anniversary of Kirby's worst day: the day his sister Melanie died. Since then Kirby has withdrawn from the world, letting his sorrow fester as he watches Die Hard over and over again. The only personal connections Kirby still maintains are his friendships with Jake and PJ. PJ is popular and likable; Jake, on the other hand, is "a real asshole." The three boys get together for an evening of mischief, and things quickly go south. The next day at school Kirby struggles to avoid not just his own feelings about what happened, but also the school jocks looking for payback. The ensuing novel effectively externalizes Kirby's emotional arc as he twists and turns to push himself forward. Kirby's sullen anger could easily become repetitive, but the author cuts it with plenty of humor and a few moments of clarity, creating an engaging read. Less artfully drawn are the tertiary characters: Kirby's parents and the school administrators are one-note obstacles for Kirby and his friends to move around but never truly engage with. In the end, Kirby achieves his presumed catharsis and readers will feel for him, but the story isn't as rich as it could have been. PJ is the only character whose ethnicity is mentioned (he's Puerto Rican); all others can be assumed white. An irreverent journey through despondency with some minor flaws. (Fiction. 12-17)

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April 29, 2019
The worst day of 16-year-old Kirby’s life was when his sister, Melanie, died. A year later, he’s worried about getting beaten up at school for pulling a prank that ended badly the night before—and he’s not looking forward to facing his parents about the secret journal his mother found in his room, either. In his observant and expressive first-person voice, Kirby describes his experiences with bullies, his grief after losing Melanie, and his family’s recent move from suburbia to the rural town of Upper Shuckburgh, a quiet place that sometimes “feels like the moon.” Horner’s YA debut lacks fully developed characters and emotional depth (laughs come at the expense of local people, who are typecast as crass rednecks). But humor diffuses the tension built from Kirby’s various attempts to escape his fate, and witty observations, such as Kirby’s appraisal of his mother and father (“Trying to figure out my parents is like trying to put a tuxedo on a squirrel: difficult, dangerous, and not worth the photo”) feel fresh. Ages 14–up. Agent: Daniel Lazar, Writers House.

May 1, 2019

Gr 9 Up-Kirby has just moved to a new town in middle-of-nowhere farm country. His only two friends are Jake, who is not allowed at Kirby's house anymore, and PJ, the quirky, lovable one. Kirby hasn't told his new friends the real reason his family moved-his sister Melanie lost her battle with cancer. In fact, he hasn't even told his friends that he had a sister. After a prank gone awry, Kirby is forced to face his feelings about Melanie's death, but only after he survives an epically horrible day at school. Horner's YA debut is perfect for a high school reluctant reader. Teens will appreciate the depth of Kirby's character as they watch more and more get thrown at him throughout the day. Kirby faces emotional struggles with himself, his parents, and his friends, not to mention his social interactions at school with some less than forgiving bullies and school administrators. His friends Jake and PJ complement his character well, by showing just how much of one's choices are affected by one's friends. The ending feels genuine, as all bad days come to an end, one way or another. VERDICT This book will need some talking up, but will be worth it. Recommended general purchase.-Elizabeth Portillo, Easton Public Library, CT

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