Hy’s sweet naivete and coming-of-age lessons in S.B. Frasca’s NOT MY FAULT create a vivid protagonist in which teenage readers will likely find solace. Their strong narrative voice is equally childlike and endearing, even as Hy grows up throughout the novel. The narration dips into stream-of-consciousness as Hy considers their environment and slips into daydreams, creating a likable, sympathetic narrator with a rich inner life. Hy’s innocence increases the stakes of their interpersonal and inner conflicts by imbuing each new experience with a layer of fragility.

Hy makes some questionable decisions, as all teenagers do, but the protagonist’s reasoning is always understandable. For instance, when Hy decides not to wear a helmet while riding their bike, it’s because they recently sold their old one at a garage sale. As in all good YA fiction, Hy’s teenage antics have consequences, and their emotional arc hinges upon this realization: it’s not Hy’s fault that their father left, but it is Hy’s fault that they didn’t wear a helmet on their bike and got hurt. The emotional nuance of accountability propels the story forward, and its themes will likely hit home for teen readers without seeming preachy.

Although NOT MY FAULT is largely a coming-of-age novel, a subtle thread of mystery is woven around the concept of Hy’s art project (called not my fault), which represents the myriad ways in which the three words can be used—sometimes as defensive weapons, but often to avoid accountability. However, the plot, dialogue, and interiority occasionally rely on worn-out phrasing: when Belinda comes to Hy with a personal problem, for example, Hy thinks, “I’m not sure what I can offer except to listen without judging. Maybe that’s enough.” A subplot surrounding Hy’s local bodega veers into white-savior territory: when Hy paints not my fault in Hindi as an homage to the bodega’s owner, Mr. Fadikar, the owner’s son Arjun praises Hy more strongly than the situation warrants. Despite this melodrama, the relationships between Hy and both Fadikars are still a welcome respite from the torment and bullying that Hy experiences at school—and ultimately prove heartwarming.

This voice-driven YA novel pushes its baby-bird protagonist out of their lonely nest and into the vast sky of teenage socialization. Hy finds inspiration from their emotional reactions, creating vibrant pieces like a scooter with flames, or a chain of genderless paper dolls covering up a gay slur. Frasca describes Hy’s creations with care, the sensory experience of using spray paint is covered in depth, and the result is a clear mental image of Hy’s expressions of self. Though diving into Hy’s relationship with their mother, friends, and teachers is a joy, readers will cherish their own relationship with Hy most of all.

A unique and endearing teen protagonist drives S.B. Frasca’s NOT MY FAULT, a feel-good coming-of-age novel about loneliness, relationships, and accountability.

~Leah Block for IndieReader