Here, There, Everywhere

October 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-A seemingly lackluster small town becomes more appealing when two musically inclined teens fall in love and realize their time together in Buffalo Falls, Illinois may be shorter than they think. Jesus Bjorn Gunderson (who goes by Zeus), his World War II-obsessed little brother Manuel (whom Zeus calls Grub), and their mother leave Chicago to pursue her dream of opening a vegetarian cafe. While delivering food to a nursing home, Zeus meets Rose Santos, who's there playing piano. Zeus begins to volunteer at the nursing home as a way to hang around Rose more, and it doesn't take long for them to start dating. Their fun summer filled with dates to the county fair, a polka fest, a psychic, and more takes an uncertain turn when Rose reveals that she may go away to a music conservatory in the fall and when Zeus learns his mother may want to move them back to Chicago. They try to abide by the rule of one of their elderly friends-just enjoy today-but that's easier said than done. The charming Buffalo Falls is populated with vibrant characters-from Zeus's new friends to the residents of the nursing home-but Zeus and Rose feel underdeveloped. The plot begins to lose steam midway through, and the couple's dialogue often feels stiff. The story takes some unexpected turns, especially regarding the nursing home patients, and the exhilaration of first love feels realistic if somewhat rushed to fit the compact time line. VERDICT This sweet but unremarkable romance is an additional purchase.-Amanda MacGregor, Parkview Elementary School, Rosemount, MN

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2017
Boy meets girl leads to a summer of first love in Durango and Terrones' debut as co-authors. Moving from bustling Chicago to quiet Buffalo Falls, Illinois, doesn't exactly thrill 16-year-old Zeus. Summer turns out no better when his mother enlists him as a delivery boy for her struggling cafe. Now, the "proud Mexiwegian" (half Mexican, half Norwegian--Zeus is short for Jesus) teen is stuck pedaling through the sticky heat with his World War II-obsessed kid brother in tow. One fateful delivery sends him to the Hilltop Nursing Home, where he spots Rose, a Filipina piano prodigy whose mother is a nurse there. The pair soon hit it off, but inevitably, a complication arises: Rose may leave Buffalo Falls for music school in New York at the end of the summer. Durango and Terrones set up Zeus and Rose's relationship in broad strokes, relying heavily on that familiar summer-romance trope--and Zeus' often funny narration--to add some initial urgency. Alarmed by the limit on their time together, Zeus plans to make Rose's summer an unforgettable one, with trips to a polka festival, a psychic, and the Chicago Art Institute. Meanwhile, he volunteers at the nursing home, getting chummy with some of its residents, starts a band, and receives questionable dating advice from a new friend. A late revelation attempts to raise both the stakes and some half-baked family drama, but the story nonetheless continues its dutiful march to an uplifting finale. Delightful in the moment if ultimately unmemorable. (Romance. 13-17)

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October 9, 2017
In this lighthearted romance, Zeus’s mother moves the family from Chicago to middle-of-nowhere Illinois to open a café.
Friendless and aimless, Zeus has little to do beyond helping his mother with lunch deliveries—with his WWII-obsessed younger brother, Grub, in tow, imagining battles the entire way. During a stop at a nursing home, he meets musically talented Rose and stumbles into a community of rambunctious elderly residents. Durango (The Leveller) and first-time author Terrones infuse Zeus’s narration with reflection, emotion, and hope as he ventures into new friendships and into first love with Rose, who is planning to move to New York City to study music. This story is as much about family as it is about romance: Zeus’s close but challenging relationship with Grub takes center stage throughout, and their mother is an invested, perceptive parent whom Zeus confides in. Readers should find it easy to fall for Zeus and everyone else in his new life in this breezily enjoyable novel about new beginnings. Ages 13–up. Agency: Adams Literary.

September 15, 2017
Grades 8-11 In his move from Chicago to Buffalo Falls, Zeus doesn't feel like he has much to look forward to. In fact, he's pretty sure it's going to be the worst summer of his lifeat least until he meets Rose. After seeing her play piano at the local nursing home, Zeus finds himself counting down the minutes until he sees her again. However, Rose is counting down the minutes until she leaves Buffalo Falls to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. As the two grow closer through Zeus' summer surprises, Zeus hopes he has the courage to tell Rose how he really feels before she leaves Buffalo Falls. In their first novel together, Durango and Terrones masterfully weave together Zeus and Rose's story with a series of minor conflicts, supported by a colorful cast of secondary characters. Readers will identify with Zeus' feelings of being out of place and longing for human connection. Durango and Terrones' story will easily please fans of Becky Albertalli and Tim Federle.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)