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From School Library Journal

July 10, 2020

Gr 7-10-In Colbert's latest novel, a cast of warmly realized characters tell the story of a seemingly mundane moment in time-two teens voting for the first time. Marva Sheridan is beyond excited about her first election day while Duke Crenshaw can't wait to get it over with. Unfortunately for him, voting ends up being a lot more challenging than he ever expected. As the day creeps on, he and Marva have to work together to make Duke's vote count. Along the way, they realize their chemistry is undeniable. Marva and Duke are beautifully rendered over the course of this book, showing their progression from strangers to something more than friends. Their story is crafted to appear small at first-a tale told around a single voting booth-but as readers learn more, they will begin to understand how both characters are affected by much larger structures: rigged elections, educational inequities, violence, grief, and more. Colbert addresses these themes in ways that are both true to the characters and resonant with current discussions about the ways that social, economic, and racial barriers shape our lives. Marva and Duke are lovable in their own right but their story usefully shows how determination and ingenuity have the potential to produce real-world change. VERDICT Recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven romance with real-world resonance.-Talea Anderson, Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA.

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Horn Book

July 1, 2020
Marva Sheridan is an eighteen-year-old activist who can't wait to vote in her first election. Fellow high school senior Duke Crenshaw also plans to vote, though he's more lukewarm. When Duke is turned away at the polling station, bystanding Marva convinces him to join her "on a mission for democracy," in an effort to have Duke cast his vote before the polls close -- and before his band's first paying gig. Having canvassed neighborhoods and helped people register to vote, Marva, whose hero is Fannie Lou Hamer, is poised to follow the necessary steps on Duke's behalf -- steps that become increasingly convoluted. What follows is a whirlwind of activity (the pacing can be frenetic at times), presented in alternating first-person narration, involving familial and romantic relationships, women's rights, race relations (Marva is Black; Duke is biracial), lost pets, and guilty secrets. While the ballot is described as an important one, the brief references to issues including immigration reform, prison reform, and gun violence -- which is of personal importance to Duke's family -- don't identify (or limit) the story to one specific election. Colbert has created a work that highlights both the methods and the stark effects of voter suppression, particularly for people of color.

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Publisher's Weekly

Starred review from June 15, 2020
This timely, politically charged novel sees black first-time voters Marva Sheridan and Duke Crenshaw fulfilling their civic duty. Marva, passionate about politics, has been working to get out the vote. When Duke is unable to vote at their mutual polling place due to a registration mix-up, she makes it her mission to ensure he can cast his ballot. Still grieving the death of his political activist brother, biracial Duke knows exactly what's at stake. As Election Day progresses toward its results, neither teen counts on the whirlwind journey that takes them from being strangers at the polls to confidantes on the road, discussing Marva's white boyfriend's refusal to vote, Duke's fractured family's grief, and Marva's missing internet-famous cat. Colbert (The Only Black Girls in Town) aptly discusses matters of civil disobedience and social justiceâ€"including police brutality and voter suppressionâ€"without sacrificing the delicate, lighthearted relationship at the story's center. Readers will find abundant food for thought in this vital fictional account of two teens intent on using their voices and engaging in a political system that makes it difficult for them to participate. Ages 12â€"up. Agent: Tina Dubois, ICM Partners.

From Booklist

Starred review from June 1, 2020
Grades 10-1 *Starred Review* Marva Sheridan believes political activism can make a difference. She's been helping to register voters all year, and she's been looking forward to the day when she can cast her first vote in an election. Now that the day is finally here, even her boyfriend's sudden lack of interest in voting at all can't totally dampen her spirits. For Duke Crenshaw, voting isn't just a social obligation, it's a familial one; he wants to get it over with, but he knows how important it was to his late activist brother. But when Marva sees Duke turned away at the polling place, her social-justice gears start working overtime. Over the course of a single day, the two hop between precincts trying to find a way to get Duke to vote. Along the way, they discuss race (both Marva and Duke are Black, while Marva faces barriers with her white boyfriend), privilege (Marva attends a private school, Duke public), and their different family dynamics. Though they start the day as strangers, a deeper connection slowly begins to bloom. Through their distinct alternating perspectives and without ever becoming didactic, Colbert warmly and appealingly addresses issues that many teens, especially those considering how their own first vote may play out, are facing. Strong characterizations within the one-day scope make this a feat of storytelling, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

From Kirkus

Starred review from May 15, 2020
An African American teen activist is drawn to a young man she meets accidentally. Marva Sheridan was passionate about politics long before she was able to vote herself. It was not enough to anticipate voting for the first time, she's also worked to make sure that others did so as well. When she witnesses Duke Crenshaw, another teen, being turned away on Election Day, she springs into action. The two spend the day together as Duke attempts to work out his registration issues and get to his drumming gig. As they get to know each other, bits of their stories are shared: Marva's tensions with Alec, her white boyfriend who has decided not to vote, and Duke's family, who is still trying to cope following the death of his older brother. Duke's white mother and black father have divorced, and both parents are extremely protective of him and his younger sister. In addition, Marva's cat Selma, an internet star known as Eartha Kitty, has gone missing. Colbert skillfully manages both serious and playful elements throughout the novel. Marva has an infectious personality, and her politics and identity are realistically portrayed. Duke's grief, still raw, is palpable and will engage readers' empathy. The chapters feature alternating first-person narration, giving the novel an intimate feel. Secondary characters add rich texture to and understanding of the primary characters. A warmly entertaining story at the nexus of teen relationships and activism. (Fiction. 12-18)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From AudioFile Magazine

The events of this audiobook unfold over the course of a single election day as two Black teens vote for the first time. Robin Eller voices Marva, who is first in line at her polling place. She meets Duke, voiced by Cary Hite, when the poll workers can't find Duke's name on the registration list. Making sure his vote gets counted leads them on a long and winding journey during which Marva's internet-famous cat goes missing and Duke worries about making it to his band's gig. The duet performance ensures that listeners will fall for Marva and Duke even as they're falling for each other; Hite is especially convincing and appealing as Duke. With this novel, Colbert delivers a satisfying blend of character development and lessons about voter suppression, grief, and activism. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine