Poppy has always been close to her twin brother, Cam, and the two share a fondness for blending words (clever writing on Smith's part). But lately they haven't been as close because they are each dealing with their own struggles. Cam has recently come out and is trying to adjust to life as an openly gay teen. Poppy used to be happy with her vintage style and curves until a photo of her dressed as Rosie the Riveter with a hamburger photoshopped in her hand surfaces online and she is mocked for her size. Now she is unsure of herself and is struggling to see the good in things.
Deciding to be as invisible as possible, Poppy accepts a job at Chen Chicken restaurant where she dresses up as a chicken and waves a sign to attract customers. It is here where she meets a six-year-old girl, Miracle, who introduces her to a group of misfits living under a bridge: Buck, a cute British photographer who isn't very cute when he is drinking; Thumper, an elderly homeless man; and Lewis, a teen who is caring for his only living parent while struggling to reach the final stages of his gender transition.
But just as she comes to terms with the fact that there is good and bad in everyone, she is tested by a deep betrayal.
While there were some great passages, overall I was completely overwhelmed, and not in a good way. Poppy is not a character that readers will warm up to easily. There are parts of her personality that were completely cringeworthy (why does she watch those videos on YouTube?). She's also selfish and judgemental. And while this is a coming-of-age story and part of her trajectory, there are just too many obstacles to make this plausible. I can't help but feel that Smith was trying to check too many boxes and the reader is left trying to unpack it all.
Heather Smith, I applaud you for writing marginalized characters and shining a light on some very real issues, but there's too much going on with not enough detail.
HEATHER SMITH is originally from Newfoundland and her east coast roots inspire much of her writing.
Smith now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her husband and three children.
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