Starred Review ALA Booklist (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)

Starred Review Fifteen-year-old RJ's summer is going to be fully evil, predicts his best friend Manny's abuelita. It turns out she's prescient, for events that have more hell than heaven about them begin to accrue, starting with the purchase of the old Miller place by an outsider to the valley. An elderly man, Monsieur Leguin, moves in to the consternation of the local gang, the Blackjacks, who have been using the place as a den. They demand that RJ deface the house to drive the new resident away, and when that doesn't work, RJ is instructed to steal valuable antiques from Monsieur Leguin. Instead, RJ begins an uneasy relationship with the eccentric man, who insists the boy tell him stories. When RJ complies, it becomes obvious that he's a gifted storyteller; indeed, the book is a celebration of the power of story. It appears RJ may not have a happy ending, however, as the lawless Blackjacks become more demanding and threaten his family. Farley's capacity for compelling storytelling rivals that of RJ. Set in 1970s California, this ambitious debut invites serious contemplation as it examines the role of religion, a connection to The Canterbury Tales, and more. Always dramatic, the somber novel is told in RJ's slightly unlettered voice, conjuring a compelling, unforgettable reading experience that is brilliantly executed.

Kirkus Reviews

A teen must protect his family from a powerful gang in Farley's debut.In the summer of 1978, Arcangel Valley is ruled by the Blackjacks, a notorious gang with deep roots in the dead-end California town. Fifteen-year-old RJ has other things on his mind, such as his disabled little brother, Charley, whose unspecified foot deformity gives him a mysterious "greater purpose," and the death of his father, a Vietnam War veteran. But when the Blackjacks order RJ to harass the mysterious old man who's moved into their territory, RJ must protect himself and his family without losing his soul. As his attempts to outsmart the Blackjacks grow desperate and the old man becomes a confidant, RJ unearths shocking family secrets and wrestles with his conscience and past trauma. Though RJ confronts weighty topics-among them corruption and redemption; the power of storytelling; and the haunting aftermath of war-his evocative, unflinching narration keeps the pages turning. However, the author's heavy-handed literary and religious symbolism, drawn from The Canterbury Tales and Catholicism, sometimes overshadows realistic plot and character development. Charley, nearly defined by his deformity, is barely developed despite his closeness to RJ; the ending is somewhat far-fetched. Many characters, including RJ, appear to be White. RJ's best friend is brown-skinned and Latinx.Though slightly uneven, this suspenseful coming-of-age tale packs a punch. (Historical fiction. 16-18)

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

Set in Arcangel Valley, Calif., in 1978, RJ Armante, 15, who has freckled skin and auburn hair, lives with his mother and five half siblings at the Canterbury Trailer Park. RJ and his best friend Manny, who is Mexican, spend the summer avoiding the local gang, the Blackjacks, while accommodating RJ-s babysitting schedule. When RJ-s nemesis Roxanne, who is white and -Mission Indian,- lures a group of older boys to an abandoned farmhouse-and former Blackjack hangout-she locks RJ in the root cellar, not realizing that someone has already moved into the house. Angry with the owner for buying their best hideout, and wanting to leave him a -warning,- the Blackjacks learn RJ was released from the cellar by the new owner and force him to deface the home-s walls with pentagrams under the threat of violence. But RJ gets caught and meets the new owner, elderly John Leguin. RJ and Leguin, a former priest, develop a friendship, but the threat of violence from the Blackjacks is never far away. Conjuring the era through musical references as well as mentions of Son of Sam and Jim Jones, debut novelist Farley evokes the psychedelic -70s; RJ-s candid voice will engage contemporary readers in this atmospheric coming-of-age tale that effectively knits together storytelling, religion, morality, redemption, and heredity. Ages 14-up. Agent: Stephen Barr, Writers House. (Mar.)

School Library Journal (Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)

Gr 9 Up-RJ lives with his mother and five siblings in a trailer in Arcangel Valley, a dying central California town, part of which is controlled by the Blackjacks gang. When elderly John Leguin moves into an abandoned house the gang believes is rightfully theirs, they plot to intimidate him and drive him out. Under threat to his family, the Blackjacks' leader forces RJ to vandalize the house and steal valuables from the old man. The teen ends up spending time with Leguin and develops a relationship with him. Just as RJ figures out a way to get out from under the Blackjacks, he discovers his connection to Leguin is deeper than he imagined and that it comes with a responsibility. The narrative places more emphasis on imagery, particularly of religious rites, and less on story. As a result, character development is slight and the plot is missing drama. Situations that should be tense are not; the story feels likes it's being told from a distance. This literary writing style does set it apart from other young adult novels and will no doubt appeal to some readers. RJ's best friend Manny is Latino; RJ and most other characters are white. VERDICT Hand this to readers who prefer literary writing styles to character- or plot-driven narratives. Carla Riemer, Berkeley, CA