Here is my latest book review for School Library Journal . . .
“Kisses, Codes and Conspiracies” by Abigail Hing Wen is equal
parts romance and adventure. Set in modern day Palo Alto, Tan Lee seems
like a typical teenage boy who happens to have a crush on the girl, Winter Woo,
who has rented a room in his home. After going to prom together, the two decide
to distance themselves for the sake of their families. In addition,
Winter believes Tan still has feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Rebecca
Tseng. Their plans go awry when Tan’s parents and Winter’s mom take a
trip to Hawaii together, leaving Tan and Winter at home to babysit Tan’s little
sister, Sana. To complicate matters, Tan’s former girlfriend reappears on
his doorstep after ghosting him for months. She brings with her three
rare coins stolen from her father. Rebecca has run away from her parents
and is trying to start a new life in California, and she needs Tan’s
help. After a 9-1-1 call that leads to the wrong people, Tan, Winter,
Rebecca and Sana find themselves on the run, trying to outsmart international
hackers with only one goal in mind: get home safely before their parents return
from Hawaii.
Wen’s story is thrilling and keeps the readers engaged with her intricately
woven plot twists. The mix of high school drama with espionage is
executed seamlessly, making the story both relatable and exciting. Her
writing style is crisp and engaging with a good balance of dialog and
description. Her ability to convey the tension and excitement of espionage, as
well as the emotional nuances of teenage life, makes the book a compelling read.
Verdict: “Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies” is a must-read for any young adult
audience, but especially those who savor romance laced with a bit of mystery
and action. Those who enjoyed “The Jump” (Simon & Schuster, 2023) by Brittney
Morris and “Thieves’ Gambit” (Paulsen Books, 2023) by Kayvion Lewis will
appreciate this fast-paced and entertaining story.
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