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Title details for Under the Neon Lights by Arriel Vinson - Available

Under the Neon Lights

by Arriel Vinson
ebook
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In this sparkling and heartfelt debut YA novel in verse by a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, a young Black girl discovers first love, self-worth, and the power of a good skate. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Joya Goffney.
Sixteen-year-old Jaelyn Coleman lives for Saturdays at WestSide Roll, the iconic neighborhood roller rink. On these magical nights, Jae can lose herself in the music of DJ Sunny, the smell of nachos from the concession, and the crowd of some of her favorite people—old heads, dance crews, and other regulars like herself. Here, Jae and other Black teens can fully be themselves.
One Saturday, as Jae skates away her worries, she crashes into the cutest boy she’s ever seen. Trey’s dimples, rich brown skin, and warm smile make it impossible for her to be mad at him though. Best of all, he can’t stop finding excuses to be around her. A nice change for once, in contrast with her best friend’s cold distance of late or her estranged father creeping back into her life.
Just as Jae thinks her summer might change for the better, devastating news hits: Westside Roll is shutting down. The gentrification rapidly taking over her predominantly Black Indianapolis neighborhood, filling it with luxury apartments and fancy boutiques, has come for her safe-haven. And this is just one trouble Jae can’t skate away from.
Debut author Arriel Vinson’s lyrical and contemplative story of young Black love and coming of age in Indianapolis ushers in an exciting new voice in YA literature.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 3, 2025

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9780593858608

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9780593858608
      • File size: 3698 KB

  • Accessibility

    The publisher provides the following statement about the accessibility of the EPUB file supplied to OverDrive. Experiences may vary across reading systems. After borrowing the book, you may download the EPUB files to read in another reading system.

    Summary

    This ebook features mark-up that supports accessibility and enables compatibility with assistive technology. It has been designed to allow display properties to be modified by the reader. The file includes a table of contents, a defined reading order, and ARIA roles to identify key sections and improve the reading experience. A page list and page break locations help readers coordinate with the print edition. Headings allow readers to navigate the ebook quickly by level. Images are well described in conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. There is a fully linked and navigable index. Colors meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA contrast standards. There are no hazards.

    Ways Of Reading

    • Appearance of the text and page layout can be modified according to the capabilities of the reading system (font family and font size, spaces between paragraphs, sentences, words, and letters, as well as color of background and text).

    • All content can be read as read aloud speech or dynamic braille.

    • Has alternative text descriptions for images.

    Conformance

    • The publication contains a conformance statement that it meets the EPUB Accessibility and WCAG 2 Level AA standard.

    • The publication was certified by Penguin Random House LLC.

    • This publication claims to meet EPUB Accessibility 1.1 WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

    Navigation

    • Table of contents to all chapters of the text via links.

    • Index with links to referenced entries.

    • Elements such as headings, tables, etc for structured navigation.

    Additional Information

    • Page breaks included

    • High contrast between text and background

    • Color is not the sole means of conveying information

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Booklist

      March 1, 2025
      Grades 6-10 WestSide Roll is the skating rink that brings 16-year-old Jaelyn and the Black Indianapolis community together under neon lights. When the gentrification of Jaelyn's neighborhood leads to the closing of WestSide Roll, she is forced to confront some of the issues going on in her life. Jaelyn's parents have divorced after her mother's miscarriage, and her absentee father is trying to reconnect. Her best friend, Noelle, is spending more time with her new dance-team friends than her, and the new boy, Trey, is showing interest in her that she is not sure she should entertain. Told in verse, Vinson's debut unfolds palpably to the rhythm of skates sliding on the rink, keeping time with tracks of soul. Trey is a sweet boy who is dealing with his own trust issues as he and Jaelyn begin their romance. A coming-of-age story filled with romance that will have readers wanting to seek out their own local skating rinks. Recommended for all middle-grade and young adult collections.

      COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Kirkus

      May 1, 2025
      Jaelyn is a 16-year-old skater whose life changes dramatically in one brief summer. Jae is dealing with shifts in several of her relationships: There's strain and distance between her and her best friend, Noelle, difficulties with learning to trust her dad after he's repeatedly disappointed her, and the blooming of romance with the cute new boy, Trey. Other life changes unfold in the landscape around Jae as her Indianapolis community becomes another target for developers who come in and try to "push us out, / price everything just / outside / of our reach, / our possibility." When she learns that her local rink, WestSide Roll, will close to make way for a brewery, Jae is overwhelmed by the grief of losing the space that allows her the most freedom to be herself, a bold Black girl. She decides to see what she can do to recapture that spirit for herself and others. Using verse, Vinson provides concise, lyrical insights into the trials of painful transitions for multiple generations held together by disappearing community havens. The book's flow and plot are smooth and easy to follow. However, Jae's interpersonal conflicts are unevenly developed, leaving readers unmoored thanks to some rushed resolutions. Roll to the beat of summer love and loss in this heartfelt debut.(Verse fiction. 14-18)

      COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • School Library Journal

      June 1, 2025

      Gr 8 Up-Jaelyn Coleman, 16, lives and breathes roller skating. WestSide Roll, her local rink, brings together the local Black Indianapolis community and allows her to skate her troubles and worries away, especially when her best friend Noelle is getting more and more distant. She even meets a cute boy, Trey, who asks her to teach him how to skate and while she tries not to fall for his charm, Jae ultimately agrees. Everything is rolling along, until they get the news that just like the rest of the neighborhood that has fallen to gentrification, WestSide Roll is closing. With only so many days left, Jae tackles her emotions about this place of so much community and culture disappearing as well as her feelings towards Trey, her changing friendship with Noelle, and her previously absent father now wanting to be in her life. This debut novel in verse by Vinson is a coming-of-age story with a budding romance that also highlights the consequences of gentrification, the importance of community, and issues surrounding trust, change, and new friendships. Readers see through the eyes and emotions of Jaelyn, but each character is vivid and full of life. The characters leap off the page and make readers feel immersed in the story. VERDICT With the vivid verse, realistic characters, and the soul that comes from this book, it is recommended for all libraries, especially for those where novels in verse are popular.-Kylie Woodmansee

      Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

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  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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