This Night Is Ours

February 15, 2024
A teen finds herself at a crossroads while navigating family pressures and her own desires for her life. Eighteen-year-old Brandy Bailey graduated from high school a few weeks ago, and now she must decide what to do next. Her dream is to attend art school; she has an online store and even sells sketches to friends. But it's complicated: Brandy's absent white father is a noted artist, but her mother, who's Black, would prefer for her to become a nurse, like two generations of women before her. When Brandy is accepted into nursing school, her worst fears are realized, and she begins to spiral. On top of the turmoil over her future career, Brandy is drawn into a closer relationship with former classmate Ben Nolan, a white boy "whose voice and face and entire presence" made her "adrenaline spike every day." Brandy faces the most stressful, anxiety-filled day of her life, but Ben--who also has big creative dreams--is ready to come along for the ride. Davis successfully takes on the challenge of telling a story that unfolds over the course of a single day. Each chapter opens with a time stamp, and there's just enough exposition to set up the central characters; readers will be engaged as they experience Brandy's monumental night of self-discovery set against the backdrop of the town carnival. Quick pacing and clever writing make this an appealing coming-of-age story. (Fiction. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 15, 2024
Grades 9-12 Davis' (When the Stars Lead to You, 2019) sophomore novel is a sweet 24-hour adventure of finding love, peace, and your voice. Brandy has graduated high school and is enjoying her last summer before college. The only thing she's dreading is what comes next: nursing school. Her single mother is excited that Brandy is following in her footsteps, but Brandy is an artist, and she knows that she's not cut out to be a nurse. After she runs into her former classmate, up-and-coming actor Ben, who is taking off for Hollywood, the two spend the day together and confide in each other their secrets and fears. Along the way, they realize they may mean more to each other than they originally thought. In this intimate look at two teens taking leaps into the next stage of their lives, Davis' accessible writing makes it easy for readers to feel as though they are walking alongside the characters. Readers will find comfort in this amiable, warm story.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 10, 2024

Gr 8 Up-Brandy has just received her acceptance into nursing school, and her mother couldn't be more proud. The only problem is that Brandy no longer wants to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a nurse; instead, she wants to pursue art, like her father did when he abandoned them. Torn between disappointing the only parent she has ever known and following her dreams, Brandy finds herself spending the day with her high school nemesis, Ben, who is fearlessly going after his own dream of acting. While the two tease each other throughout the day, will they discover they have more in common than they ever thought possible-maybe even romance? This sophomore novel by Davis is mostly well constructed and cleverly crafted. Ben and Brandy are both strongly developed and feel very much like real teens, and the supporting cast of characters have their own complex stories as well. The plot moves along steadily, and while issues abound, each is given space to be explored in depth. Most characters are white; Brandy is mixed race, with a Black mother and white father. VERDICT Recommended for high school collections, this is sure to be a hit for fans of whirlwind romances such as those by Nicola Yoon and Rachel Lynn Solomon.-Chelsey Masterson

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.