STREETLIGHT PEOPLE by Charlene Thomas is a unique time-travel young adult novel that tackles the issues of social class and entitlement. It feels in part magical, mystifying, dark, and intriguing. From a carnival with a unique prize, a dark initiation event, and swirling timelines, this novel takes readers on a wild ride through the lives of those in this strange little town.
Streetlight is a town filled with Have-Nots and Have-Lots. The Have-Lots own the large mansions, drive the nice cars, and hang together in their secret society of IV Boys. Kady is a Have-Not, while her boyfriend Nik is a Have-Lots. Kady is referred to as Nik’s “external venture” by the IV Boys, but she is allowed to hang with their exclusive group because of Nik. However, Nik refuses to take Kady to the coveted ball, which is held every December. It has already been a difficult year with Nik starting college in another town, while Kady remains in Streetlight. Yet Nik visits often and his friend Aaron watches out for her. But things get worse in Streetlight when rumors start swirling about a kiss between Kady and Aaron. The IV Boys in town now have a reason to dislike her. Kady has a secret, though. She won a prize from the Time Keeper at the annual Halloween festival that allows her to manipulate time. Will she use this time-traveling gift to relive her best moments with Nik and keep the IV Boys at bay? How long can she keep doing it? As Kady learns more about the time traps in Streetlight, she starts to wonder what is real, what is relived, and where does she go from here.
STREETLIGHT PEOPLE is an entertaining YA time-travel adventure set in the small town of Streetlight, where social class separations are distinct. Kady is a unique main character with the internal conflict of coveting what the IV Boys have while disliking most of their behavior and actions. Her relationships with her Have-Not friends feel authentic, and the conflicts she faces with her romantic relationship add nice tension and suspense. The story lags at times in the middle but gains momentum at the end, with the complex time-traveling rules causing some confusion while keeping the plot moving forward. Overall, STREETLIGHT PEOPLE is a little flawed, but it is a unique and entertaining Young Adult novel that will appeal to readers who like stories that combine magic with darkness and intertwine it with social conflict.
A little bit Twin Peaks, a little bit Black Mirror, Streetlight People is a story of growing up in—and out of—a small town with a huge secret.
For most, Streetlight is a dot on the map you pass on your way to somewhere else. But if you live there, you’re either a Have-Not, like Kady, or a Have-Lot like her boyfriend, Nik, who also happens to be a member of the exclusive social club, The IV Boys.
Known for their powerful families and the coveted ball they host for a selective guest list, The IV Boys have always refused to accept Kady regardless of how much Nik loves her. All the Boys except for Aaron, who didn’t grow up in Streetlight and is one of the few who knows that life—real life—exists outside of it. But his stepmom has the kind of wealth and power even IV Boys can’t resist.
With Nik at college, Aaron stands by Kady’s side.But all Kady really wants is Nik, and when a chance encounter on Halloween hands her the power to twist and hold time, she doesn’t hesitate. Now she can keep Nik close for as long as she wants.
While Kady tries to relive her best moments with Nik, the IV Boys have her in their sights. A rumor’s spreading that Kady and Aaron are much more than friends—and not even twisting time is enough to defend against the power that the Boys were born with.
The more Kady changes the clock, the more dizzying reality becomes, until she stumbles upon a truth darker than anything she could have imagined. Streetlight is filled with monsters—and maybe she’s always been one, too.
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