Award-winning author Francisco X. Stork revisits some of the themes and ideas that made Marcelo in the Real World such an unforgettable novel.
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the I AM NOT ALONE by Francisco X. Stork Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out this coming of age teen book and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Title: I AM NOT ALONE
Author: Francisco X. Stork
Pub. Date: July 18, 2023
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 242
Alberto’s life isn't easy: He's an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who lives with his sister's abusive boyfriend―but he'd always accepted his place in the world. Until he starts hearing the voice of a man called Captain America, a voice that wants him to achieve more, no matter the cost.
Grace has it all: She has a supportive boyfriend, she’s on track to be valedictorian, and she’s sure to go to the college of her dreams. Still, nothing feels right to her anymore after the divorce of her parents, and feels she needs something more.
When Alberto and Grace meet, they have an immediate and electric connection. But when Alberto is present at the scene of a terrible crime, he becomes a suspect. And with his developing schizophrenia, he’s not even sure he believes in his own innocence.
Can Grace find a way to prove Alberto’s innocence to himself and the world?
This is a page-turning thriller and a sensitive story about mental health, love, and community that will appeal to anyone who has struggled with their place in the world, from award-winning author Francisco X. Stork.
Reviews:
★ “An affecting, deeply emotional story. An important book.” -- Booklist, starred review
★ “Alberto’s suspected schizophrenia makes him heartbreakingly susceptible to both the best and worst of humanity. An illuminatingly powerful story about mental illness, young love, faith, and hope.” -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★"The narrative’s high-stakes conflicts are front and center, [but] it’s the sheer sweetness of Alberto and Grace’s love story that sets the tone of this hopeful read." -- Publishers Weekly
I give I AM NOT ALONE by Francisco X. Stork
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Alberto is an undocumented immigrant who lives with his abusive sister's boyfriend. He starts hearing the voice of Captain America, who encourages him to achieve more. Grace is a high school senior who has everything she could want, but feels lost after her parents' divorce. She meets Alberto and they fall in love, but he is then framed for a crime he didn't commit. Grace must find a way to prove his innocence.
The author did a fantastic job creating these two main characters, Alberto and Grace. They're like peanut butter and jelly, seriously, they have this uncanny chemistry that just leaps off the pages. Alberto, with his enigmatic charm, is the kind of guy you can't help but root for. Grace, on the other hand, is a fiery force of nature, smart and determined, with a touch of vulnerability that makes her utterly relatable.
Their dynamic is pure gold, and it adds so much to the suspense of the story. As they navigate through twisty plotlines and dangerous encounters, you can't help but feel like you're right there with them, heart pounding, breath hitching. The author has this talent for crafting edge-of-your-seat moments, and I swear I was practically biting my nails at times.
I genuinely enjoyed every bit of this book and I can't stress enough how much I recommend it, especially if you're a sucker for thrillers.
About Francisco X. Stork:
Francisco X. Stork is the author of Marcelo in the Real World, winner of the Schneider Family Book Award for Teens and the Once Upon a World Award; The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, which was named to the YALSA Best Fiction for Teens list and won the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award; Irises; The Memory of Light, which received four starred reviews; and Disappeared, which also received four starred reviews and was named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year. He lives near Boston with his wife. You can find him on the web at franciscostork.com and @StorkFrancisco.
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy of I AM NOT ALONE, US Only.
Ends August 1st, midnight EST.