Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In this coming-of-age story set on Long Island, the tropical butterflies Jean Louise (JL) raises become a central metaphor for the changes she undergoes during her 10th-grade year. JL wistfully remembers the simple, happy days of her childhood, when she visited the planetarium with her -weirdo hippy parents- and trusted her best friend, Aubrey, with secrets. Now things are different. JL-s father has been gone for 18 months on an extended business trip to California, and her mother-s fragile mental state has steadily declined, signified by the letters she writes and mails to dead author Jack Kerouac, JL-s namesake. JL has also grown away from Aubrey; she disapproves of Max, an older boy who calls JL -Jailbait- and offers to take her with him when he heads out to California on his motorcycle. Juxtaposing childhood flashbacks against present-day scenes en route to a too-tidy ending, Polisner (In Sight of Stars) creates a mosaic of visceral images and moods, including emotional and physical longing, as JL navigates the uncomfortable terrain between adolescence and adulthood. Ages 14-up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Apr.)

ALA Booklist (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

Fifteen-year-old JL (Jean Louise), named after author Jean-Louis "Jack" Kerouac, is wrapped in a chrysalis of confusion and unease. Her father left on business over a year ago. Her mother, suffering from dissociative disorder, writes letters to long-dead Kerouac, whom her grandmother once kissed in a restaurant. Mostly, JL feels abandoned by her longtime confidante and bestie, Aubrey, who has embraced new girlfriends that whisper about JL's relationship with her older boyfriend, Max. In truth, JL is drawn to Max like a moth to a flame. To quell her complicated emotions, JL seeks comfort in raising exotic butterflies, whose fragility and capacity for metamorphosis reflect JL's own transformation. Polisner's writing is effortless and authentic, and JL is a character that readers will unquestionably relate to. Mental illness, absentee parents, bonds between friends, and the daunting anticipation of first-time sex are woven into JL's story with unguarded, unvarnished candor. Perfect for readers who love coming-of-age stories and who understand the value of female community.

Kirkus Reviews

Will JL jump on the back of her boyfriend's motorcycle and light out for California to see her dad—or stay on Long Island with her mother?Jean Louise, or "JL"—named for author Jack (Jean-Louis) Kerouac—has grown up with both her mother and grandmother fixated on the fact that in 1961, her then-teenage grandmother was kissed by Kerouac in a restaurant in their hometown of Northport, Long Island. JL is baffled by their fascination (and likely so will most teen readers today be). However, as a high school sophomore, JL has bigger worries. Her father has moved to California for work, and it is unclear when he will return. Her mother is sinking into a dissociative state, writing letters to the dead author. Her former best friend, Aubrey, has found new friends. JL finds solace in her relationship with her 19-year-old boyfriend, Max (who is a stereotype of the bad boy with a heart of gold), and in raising tropical butterflies from a kit her grandmother bought for her. The major strengths of the book are deft deployment of the emerging butterfly theme, first-person narration by a strong and insightful character, and honest descriptions of JL's sexual relationship with Max. Unfortunately, JL's mother's mental illness is portrayed shallowly, the Kerouac element is not very compelling, and the setting is indistinguishable from Anytown, USA. All characters seem to be white.A serviceable exploration of teen relationships. (Fiction. 13-18)