Didn't See That Coming

September 18, 2023
A confident, charismatic protagonist headlines this dynamic story of hidden and mistaken identity, inspired by the rom-com You’ve Got Mail, by Sutanto (Well, That Was Unexpected). To avoid harassment based on her gender, 17-year-old Kiki Siregar, who lives in Jakarta, plays her favorite virtual game, Warfront Heroes, using the handle DudeBro10, and has persuaded fellow players that she is a boy—including her in-game best friend, whom she only knows as Sourdawg. But as she and Sourdawg grow closer, the lie eats away at her. Kiki’s real life is soon upended when she transfers from Mingyang High to ultra-conservative Xingfa School, where the social dynamics differ significantly from what she’s accustomed to; classmates patronize her for her outspoken personality and school administrators do nothing to curb escalating bullying. On top of that, she learns that Sourdawg attends the same school—and might just be the schoolmate she dislikes most. Sparkling humor, vivacious storytelling, and occasionally theatrical scenarios inject levity into this perceptive romp with weighty themes. Most characters are Chinese Indonesian. Ages 12–up. Agent: Katelyn Detweiler, Jill Grinberg Literary.

September 15, 2023
Nothing can dim the light of the "Fabulous and Marvelous Kiki Siregar." Nothing except maybe the atmosphere at the super-conservative Xingfa School, which her parents have made her transfer to from more the progressive Mingyang High, where she "wasn't even considered one of the more outspoken pupils." Seventeen-year-old Jakarta resident Kiki is optimistic that she can shine at her new school if she stays true to herself. But in just the first few days at Xingfa, she's patronized by Jonas Arifin, a popular, wealthy, and misogynistic classmate; goes viral on TikTok as #CrazyKiki in an embarrassing video in which she's wearing her school uniform; and is admonished by the principal after standing up for herself against golden boy Jonas. Fortunately, Kiki finds solace in online gaming, most notably in Warfront Heroes, which she plays under the screen name Dudebro10 to avoid harassment from male gamers. She confides in Sourdawg, her "adorkable" online friend, about her school troubles--but later realizes that he's actually her kind classmate Liam Ng, whom she does not want to lose as a friend (or possibly something more). From Kiki's irrepressible self-confidence to Jonas' seemingly delusional attraction to her, the story is a parody of gender disparities in a school setting that occasionally leans more into caricature. Readers may find Kiki to be a refreshing lead and the hijinks entertaining, although the teenspeak feels artificial at times. The cast is mainly Chinese Indonesian. Rollicking, if somewhat over-the-top, fun. (Fiction. 12-17)

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Starred review from October 15, 2023
Grades 8-12 *Starred Review* Popular Kristabella "Kiki" Siregar is an outspoken gamer-girl living in South Jakarta, Indonesia. Feeling that her schooling has made her too liberal, Kiki's affluent parents unexpectedly switch her to Xingfa--an elite, traditionally Chinese school--for her last year. Hoping to enthrall new peers with her confidence, Kiki is taken aback by the school's chauvinistic mindset. When she gets bullied by smug classmate Jonas Arifin and many others, her confidence quickly wanes. To relieve stress, Kiki finds solace in gaming under the guise of a male character called "DudeBro" (to avoid being objectified). It is in this gaming universe where she builds a kinship with the sweet and progressive "Sourdawg." Through the help of the meddlesome "Lil' Auntie's" dating service, Kiki hopes to reveal her online friend's identity, as well as build a relationship with her handsome project partner, Liam. Dial A for Aunties (2021) author Sutanto creates another fictional masterpiece centered on gender bias and STEM-related topics. Readers will empathize with the remarks and jabs that the protagonist, and other classmates, face on the daily from supposed superiors. This story is a great reminder for people to stand up to aggressors and to not diminish their true identity. An adorkably inclusive YA romance that is both fiery and earnest.

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Starred review from January 1, 2024

Gr 8 Up-Seventeen-year-old Kiki Siregar has always been confident, describing herself as "loud and unapologetically obnoxious." The only time Kiki's has to be cautious is when she's online. Gaming is easier as a guy (Dudebro10, specifically), and she isn't harassed and threatened by other players or punished by the game for reporting said harassment. While pretending to be a guy, Kiki has made a very real friend in another player, Sourdawg-one she hates lying to but knows she isn't likely to meet IRL. Then Kiki's parents transfer her to Jakarta's top Chinese School, where Sourdawg is a student. Adjusting to the school's conservative atmosphere is harder than Kiki expected as she faces bullying, strict teachers, and students who'd rather keep their heads down than try to change the toxic environment. After helping her American cousin Sharlot navigate sexism and a rocky start with her now-boyfriend in Sutanto's novel Well, That Was Unexpected, Kiki thinks she knows what to expect when roped into a matchmaking scheme she hopes will help her find Sourdawg. But Kiki soon realizes that with her confidence in tatters, she has to find her old self-assurance first. Chinese Indonesian Kiki is a cackle-inducing narrator with plenty of acerbic observations and snappy asides. Strong friendships at school with other female students help ground Kiki and give her the support she needs to speak out. The heaviness of Kiki's isolation and bullying throughout are countered with the mystery of Sourdawg and tentative flirting with deskmate Liam Ng. VERDICT A powerful trifecta of humor, romance, and feminism grounded in positive change.-Emma Carbone

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