Book Review of Here the Whole Time
The Children’s Book Review
Here the Whole Time
Written by Vitor Martins
Ages 14+ | 288 Pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press | ISBN: 9781338620825
What to Expect: Self-Esteem, Romance, Family Relationships, Bullying
Felipe has a lot of things to worry about: being overweight, being bullied for being overweight, being gay and single, being a single child of a single parent. However, the biggest thing on his list of worries this winter break is that his biggest crush, Caio, is coming to stay. Caio barely talks to Felipe most of the time, even though they’re neighbors, but now he will be staying in Felipe’s room. His presence will escalate every one of Felipe’s worries and put his ability to cope with life to the ultimate test. Can a boy like him find love? Maybe, if he can keep it together, the future might hold magic for both of them.
Teen romances have a terrible reputation for being generic, cringey, and stereotypical. Luckily, Here the Whole Time is none of these things. Sweet, authentic, funny, and relatable, this romance is nothing short of heartwarming. Felipe is an engaging and loveable character, and readers are sure to sympathize with his ready humor and forthright honesty. Martins tackles sensitive topics like body shame, coming out, and poor parenting with empathy and a light touch, inviting readers to think deeply without slipping over the line into instruction. The positive portrayal of therapy throughout the novel is also worth mentioning—an important step on the road to de-stigmatizing mental health issues.
Here the Whole Time is a thought-provoking novel as well as a captivating love story – well worth reading!
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About the Author
Vitor Martins received his degree in journalism but works as an illustrator. He published his first YA novel, Quinze Dias, in June 2017 with Globo Alt in Brazil (to be published as Here the Whole Time in the U.S.).
Here the Whole Time, written by Vitor Martins, was reviewed by Dr. Jen Harrison. Discover more books like Here the Whole Time by following our reviews and articles tagged with romance, family relationships, bullying, and self-esteem.
