The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad

April 1, 2022
Tuna has a plan--many, in fact--but despite her heart's being in the right place, each is noticeably worse than the last and guaranteed to lead to unwelcome shenanigans. As an aspiring screenwriter who's proud of her heritage, Altuna "Tuna" Kashmir Rashad sees the world in terms of story structures and superstitions, often to the frustration of her friends and tightknit multiracial Caribbean American family. So whether it's her intention to manufacture a real-life love story for herself the summer before college or plotting to get her older brother, Robby, back on the market via an online dating profile he knows nothing about, sometimes Tuna's focus on plot beats and divine signs makes her oblivious to the feelings of others. Her family is still mourning the sudden and tragic death of Robby's husband; Robby's emotional needs, however, are inexplicable to Tuna. Regardless of explicit guidance from her parents to be more supportive and her best friend's opinion that she may be a bit insensitive if not delusional, she believes he needs to move on and make a fresh start. In this, Tuna is a frustrating protagonist to root for, just as her stodgy wordplay and semispiritual quirks may not be every reader's cup of tea, but as tensions boil over with her brother and her love interest, the transition from hijinks-laden scheming to emotionally earnest and thoughtful is worthwhile. Genuine growth is hard to script but easy to find here. (Fiction. 13-18)

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July 4, 2022
Deen (Lark has the Shivers) handily navigates sudden loss and elusive love by blending art, science, and spirituality in this breezy romance. Multiracial (“vanilla-chocolate”) Canadian Altuna “Tuna” Rahsad, 18 and an aspiring screenwriter, relies on signs, omens, and guidance from her Caribbean ancestors to carefully plot out her life. This summer, she plans on using these influences to craft the perfect romance with her crush, Tristan Dangerfield. But Tuna feels that her older brother Robby—who’s still reeling from his husband’s death—is constantly prying into her life and hindering her fledgling relationship. Eager to kick-start their lives again, Tuna, unknown to Robby, creates and manages an online dating profile for him. But when Tuna’s insistence that he move on causes tension in their family, she realizes that her single-minded pursuit of a movie-worthy life might mean forfeiting the things she cares about most. Even when Tuna sheds her meticulous planning, her and Tristan’s romantic chemistry never quite takes off, and Tuna’s perceived lack of empathy for Robby’s emotional needs both proves occasionally vexxing and stalls character growth. Nevertheless, Deen’s strong-willed and decisive supporting cast, their clever banter, and Tuna’s meddling shenanigans provide good humor. Ages 13–up. Agent: Amy Tompkins, Transatlantic Literary.