  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 12/15/2021 Ibura makes her authorial debut with this novel about the COVID-19 challenges experienced by four classmates who live in the same New York City apartment building. Struggling to adjust to online school and tensions within their families and friend group due to living in confinement, they soon realize they are not the only people trying to meet the challenges of quarantine. Slowly, they find ways to reach out to other building residents, starting small by taking out trash, walking dogs, and delivering groceries. These small kindnesses build and strengthen relationships. Readers will appreciate the diverse representations as well as the individuality of Ai, Ben, Liam, and Shayla and will wonder what happens to the group long after the story ends. This story also examines this community’s anxieties and responses to George Floyd’s murder and subsequent demonstrations. A timely and accessible look at the pandemic that will appeal to readers of realistic fiction and fans of Jewell Parker Rhodes and Kelly Yang. - Copyright 2021 Booklist. Loading...
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