LitPick Review
Kidd comes from a difficult past into a group home where he feels misunderstood and abandoned until he befriends Devon, another troubled teen. After Kidd is forced to renounce his friendship with Devon, he runs away to Cardiff, California and works at a beachside campsite. In Cardiff, he falls in love with Olivia, a beautiful girl who understands Kidd and the responsibilities that come with being born into deceiving circumstances. Just as Kidd begins to embrace his new life, his past catches up with him and he is forced to confront regrets that have shaped the rest of his life. These choices lead him to discover that things are never as they seem.
Opinion:
Matt de la Peña tells Kidds story through journal entries that truly embody the perspective of the protagonist. This style helps in understanding Kidd and left me wanting more. The character development is a prominent feature throughout the novel and my only real complaint is the inconsistencies presented after the plot twist. I wish that the plot would move along a bit faster but for a lazy weekend read, this book is perfect. Id suggest this to older teens that are capable of confronting difficult topics and fans of realistic fiction.
