Adi Alsaid

Billed as a YA book, but is really much more — families (both birth and made ones), loss, connections, food, restaurant work, love, cultures, concocting recipes… I think the author’s use of recipes at the start of each chapter was particularly charming. I perused ingredients and flavors along with the story itself. Having lost a brother through violence, I could relate to Carlos and Felix. 16 years after his death, my brother still comes to visit me sometimes in dreams. He doesn’t show more cook, though, or give advice, but I’m still happy to see him.📚 show less

Come On In, an anthology of short stories compiled by Adi Alsaid, places the reader into the lives of immigrants living in or coming to the United States.

Fifteen different stories. Different countries. Americans who are called immigrants but only know America as home. People leaving family hoping for something better, knowing they'll never see their homes or families again. The variety of stories are real--they reflect the people of the world and the people of the United States. Each story, show more however, is about identity, about place. How does "place" help define who we are? How does "place" make people feel justified to judge?

I found each story to be beautiful in its own way, whether the message or the writing moved me, they all brought emotion. Obviously, I can't discuss fifteen stories, but I would like to share two. In "First Words," by Varsha Bajaj, Priya's family moves to the United States hoping for better help with her younger brother Rishi, who was born with a hearing impairment. Priya finds kindness in one girl, Jane, but Priya can't finds words to speak. She's afraid of being laughed at again after being laughed at the first day of school due to a vocabulary mixup. She knows home and her family; she doesn't know this place. How can she find herself in this new place? Her brother, with the disability, does well. It's his advice and Jane's encouragement that allows Priya to start finding herself in this place. I like this story because it's about words. Priya can't bring much with her, but she brings a couple of favorite books. It's the librarian hosting a book club about one of these books that allows Priya to find her first words. It's a beautiful story about knowing oneself and finding the confidence to speak from this knowledge.

The other story titled "Hard to Say" by Sharon Morse presents the opposite experience. Valentina moved from Venezuela when she was six and, even though Spanish was her first language, she remembers very little of it. Her grandparents are able to get out of Venezuela and come to the United States to live with them. Valentina has forgotten much of her Spanish and is unable to communicate with her grandparents. Her sister was older when they came to the US and has kept up with them on the phone because she speaks fluent Spanish. When the grandparents arrive, Valentina feels separated because she knows little of what is being said. It's only when grandmother bridges the gap with the language of art that they find their connection. Valentina's world had always been the US in her memories; this connection allows her to find memories from the past that help her find a beginning, a place for her in this "new" family.

It would be wrong to not mention the challenges that come with immigrating to the United States. For those who have only lived in the US or only remember the US, how does one answer, "Where are you really from?" In "Where I'm From," Eriko finds it rude that people ask this question and replies, "Minneapolis." Isn't this the essential question for every American? She truly identifies as American, which she is, but she's also Japanese. Her father gives her an interesting perspective about "we" (Americans) and their own Japanese heritage. Several stories present the lives of people living undocumented in the United States and the fears accompanying that reality. This situation is especially relevant now as ICE has amped up finding people, and the government implies many immigrants are less than human. In the end, the stories reveal the humanity of every person and the struggles of trying to find or build "home" despite fear, prejudice, and/or perceived or self-imposed expectation. The beauty of these stories allows the reader to wish the best for humanity as we all seek life and identity without judgement but with love and acceptance in this place we call the United States. show less

Leila is on her way to Alaska in her 'everything red' older car. She's bound and determined to see the Northern Lights, for reasons that only become clear near the end of the book. She's in no hurry, so the journey turns into more of an odyssey than a straight 'go there, see that' experience. Along the way, she meets four other teens, Hudson, Bree, Elliott and Sonia. More importantly, she profoundly affects each of their lives in a very short period of time.
Hudson is a teen auto mechanic show more who agrees to work on her car when she pulls up at his dad's shop. He's pumped because he'll be meeting with a university official the next morning, a meeting that could net the scholarship which will lead to his eventually getting a medical degree. There's an instant attraction between Leila and Hudson, one that grows until they swim out to an island in the Mississippi and spend the night together. When she confronts him about what's really important to him the following morning, he's bitter and in denial, so they part on unfriendly terms.
Next up is hitchhiker Bree, estranged from her sister after their parents died very close together in time. Neither sister has been able to break through their grief and connect, so Bree ran away, but being free and independent isn't what she thought it would be. Leila is able to open her eyes and help her begin the all important healing process.
Elliott almost gets himself killed when he staggers into the road just as Leila drives past. He's disconsolate because his best friend who he professes his love for at the prom, rejected him in front of everyone. Despite throwing up on himself, Elliott connects with Leila who makes an impulsive decision to use '80s movie cheese to help him win over the girl of his dreams. How it plays out is pure reading enjoyment
Sonia is in a very tough emotional place. Her boyfriend of three years died suddenly last year while playing a game. His family had taken to her so much that she's still a part of it, but she's fallen in love with another guy who is also very close to her late boyfriend's family. She's terrified that if she comes out with her new relationship, her adopted family will reject her. Leila and Sonia embark on a cross border comedy of errors involving lost passports and wedding rings that's probably the best of the four stories within a story.
When Leila reaches Alaska, we finally learn why she's so intent on seeing the Northern Lights and her motivation is sad, sweet and gut wrenching. How she resolves her own issues around loss and sadness are a terrific ending for one of the best books I've read this year. Teens who have experienced a personal loss, who like a great romantic tale or a story with bits of magical realism and mystery in it will love this book. It's a no-brainer add for libraries. show less

"Never date your best friend Always be original Sometimes rules are meant to be broken."

Dave and Julia are best friends entering high school and they decide to make a "Never" list so they don't become cliches, but as graduation gets closer, Julia decides that they should now do everything on the list instead. What she doesn't know is that Dave has already broken rule #8, never pine silently for someone for the entirety of high school. As they begin to cross the Nevers off the list, will Dave show more be able to keep his love for Julia a secret so it doesn't ruin their friendship, or will he let the cat out of the bag?

I really, really, really wanted to love this book, because the premise is a great one, but I felt like it lost something in the execution. Dave and Julia were almost caricatures and way over the top most of the time. I started out looking forward to seeing where the story would go, but by the end I was kind of tired of Julia (she was exhausting!). Dave was okay but he was too much of a pushover, at least until the end, but it was too late by then to get behind him.

I enjoyed this book okay, but it wasn't one that will stick with me.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

*** I would like to thank Harlequin TEEN and Adi Alsaid for the opportunity to read and review this book. show less