Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Jana Rubio begged her parents to let her have one night away at an outdoor music festival to see her favorite band with her best friend, Maddy Parsons. After her mother's car accident and her sister's bumpy start at college, Jana has felt the need to be available for her parents whenever she's needed. She deserves some freedom before she graduates high school in a few months and won't let a fight with her best friend that leaves them not speaking with each other derail her plans. She secures a ride with her friend from church, Nathan Clark, and is ready to go. But, when Nathan arrives to pick her up, not only does he have his younger brother Ethan with him, but Maddy and her boyfriend Tyler are also along for the two-hour ride. Then, when Nathan loses his car keys crowd-surfing and he and Tyler become unable to help in the search for them, Jana, Maddy, and Ethan are left to search the festival grounds for the keys to make it home. The premise is promising, but at times the uneven pacing and unrealistic series of unfortunate events make for an uneven narrative. VERDICT Teens will enjoy the adventure.--Rebekah J. Buchanan
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A group of teens get stuck at a music festival when the keys to their van go missing. Ever since her older sister's unexpected return from college, her mother's car accident, and her father's expanded work hours, responsible Filipino American Jana Rubio has felt pressured to be constantly available for her family. Before, she could always count on best friend Maddy Parsons, who's had her own share of family issues, to understand when she needed to cancel plans or hang out less. Jana and Maddy were planning to see their favorite band at a music festival, but their plans changed after an epic argument, and they're no longer on speaking terms. Refusing to give up this opportunity of a lifetime, Jana decides to go with church friend Nathan Clark--only to discover that Maddy, Maddy's boyfriend, and Nathan's younger brother are along for the two-hour ride. Jana's determined to have fun and be home by midnight as promised, but chaos ensues when Nathan loses his keys. Jana ends up running around the festival grounds with Maddy, trying to find them. Jana, who's unlikable at times, is a relatable protagonist who unfairly carries the weight of her family's problems and also acts as Maddy's "Emotional Support Jana." The wild concert hijinks are well balanced with Jana's introspective thoughts as she navigates her fragile friendship with Maddy and her need to control everything. Nathan and Everett are cued Latine; Maddy reads white. An entertaining and insightful romp. (Fiction. 12-17) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
