Brothers, Meagan. Supergirl Mixtapes.

Brothers, Meagan.   Supergirl Mixtapes.   Macmillan/ Henry Holt   248p  $17.99      978-0-8050-8081-0       hs          VG      Conflict   

Maria moves to New York City to live with her estranged mother. Punk rock and other music of the 1980s and 1990s are featured prominently is this book about coming of age and facing the reality of parents that really don’t parent well. Grades 9-12.      Maria, a main character from Debbie Harry Sings in French, is once again featured, but this book lacks the punch of the first novel. Maria has only seen her mother twice in the last fourteen years, because mom abandoned Maria to move to New York City and become an artist when Maria was two years old.  Since Maria is not getting along with her father particularly well, he reluctantly agrees that Maria can travel from South Carolina to NYC to live with her mother.  Once in New York, Maria finds that her mother lives with a much younger boyfriend, is not dependable, and appears to be at the same emotional age as Maria.  The prep school Maria transfers to subtly bullies her, leading Maria to quit school.  A elderly friend of Maria’s family takes her under her wing and gives her a unique form of home schooling.  Maria comes to the realization that all adults have quirks and are less than perfect in this coming-of-age novel.  Stronger character development of the supporting characters would have given the book more punch.  The reader understands surface motivation, but a true sense of characters caring for each other or for Maria is absent.  However, it is perfect for readers who want to revisit the 1990s art scene in NYC.                   --Lois McNicol