Supergirl Mixtapes

Maria was six years old when her mother headed for New York City, leaving Maria in South Carolina to be raised by her father and grandmother. Now, at 16, Maria is finally allowed to move into a small apartment with her energetic, music-adoring mother and her much younger boyfriend, Travis, a musician. Maria hopes to leave her past behind, including the events that led to her suicide attempt, as she starts a new life. Brothers’s (Debbie Harry Sings in French) story is steeped in rock and roll history and lore, from the “supergirl mixtapes” that Maria’s friend Dory sends her (so named because they mostly feature girl bands) to her mother’s obsession with Patti Smith. The 1990s New York City setting is captivating in its detail, and Maria’s struggles to bond with her mother, survive a snobby school, and understand her mutual attraction with Travis are honestly portrayed. Maria is a sympathetically flawed character, and the climactic scene with her mother is painfully real. Messy and often heartbreaking, Maria’s journey is one well worth taking. Ages 14–up. Agent: Emily Sylvan Kim, Prospect Agency. (Apr.)