Tiger Milk

June 1, 2016
The heat of Berlin's summer ushers in a season of change, awakening, and unfettered possibilities for Nini and Jameelah, an inseparable pair of 14-year-olds. Nini narrates and is the quieter of the girls, content to follow vivacious, Iranian-born Jameelah's lead. They engage in classic acts of teenage rebellionshoplifting, smoking, partying, sexual explorationwhile perpetually drinking a brandy-infused concoction dubbed Tiger Milk. Their carefree attitude is checked one night, however, when they witness a murder. Jameelah refuses to go to the police for fear of deportation and tells Nini to keep quiet about what they saw. Unsurprisingly, the secret turns toxic and causes a rift in their friendship. It's easy to forget that these girls are only 14, but small reminders of their innocence are threaded throughout. De Velasco's portrait of adolescence at times stretches credibility, but the emotions coursing through it run true. After the murder, Nini wonders, Why didn't anyone tell us this could happen here a question likely to be asked many times over as she ventures further into the world of adulthood.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)