Books I've Loved: Little and Lion

I loved Brandy Colbert's debut, Pointe, so I've been anticipating Little and Lion since I first heard about it.

And while it wasn't as stunning as Pointe, it's definitely well worth reading.

Suzette has been at boarding school for a year and now she's home for the summer.  She was sent away because her mother and step-father were struggling to deal with her step-brother, Lionel's bipolar diagnosis.  Lionel is stable now, on meds, and Suzette, who he calls Little,  is eager for them to get back to the close relationship they had always enjoyed.

She's also keen to reconnect with her old friends, especially Emil who she has long had a crush on.

But nothing is ever simple.  While at school, Suzette had an intense relationship with her roommate, Iris, and is now questioning her sexuality.  She is still attracted to Emil, but there's also Rafaela, a girl she meets at one of her bestie's party and is instantly drawn to.

Lion is also drawn to Rafaela, and Little won't do anything to hurt her brother.  Especially when he admits he's off his meds and begs her not to tell their parents.

This book deals with a lot of different issues, but handles them all well.  There's mental illness, bi-sexuality, bi-racial families and more.  But it never felt heavy handed.  Little is an engaging protagonist and even if I believe that keeping Lion's secret was a good idea, I understand her reasons for doing it.  Oh, boy did I understand!

So I recommend this one.  

But don't just listen to me, here's the blurb:

When Suzette comes home to Los Angeles from her boarding school in New England, she isn't sure if she'll ever want to go back. L.A. is where her friends and family are (along with her crush, Emil). And her stepbrother, Lionel, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, needs her emotional support.

But as she settles into her old life, Suzette finds herself falling for someone new...the same girl her brother is in love with. When Lionel's disorder spirals out of control, Suzette is forced to confront her past mistakes and find a way to help her brother before he hurts himself--or worse.