Francine Stevenson: a smart but lonesome 25-year-old, a Black lesbian and a UC Berkeley graduate. A product of her parents’ abundant love, which counteracted the bullying she endured in her crappy childhood, Francine is supremely cultured and cool, yet lacks the confidence to believe it about herself. She is an aspiring photographer with talent; however, said talent is currently being wasted in her work as a full-time assistant to a tech executive, and a part-time videographer for her mother Corrina’s astrological YouTube channel.
When Corrina dies suddenly from heart failure, Francine falls into deep, unshakable sadness. But just when she’s unable to carry on, a commotion outside her window causes her to pause. She sees a boy being picked on by some bullies. Having been through enough of that in her formative years, Francine rushes to help the boy, who turns out to be Davie—10 years old, exceptionally smart and possibly autistic, a boy who habitually blurts slavery factoids whenever distressed.
After that first encounter, Davie starts showing up unannounced at her house, and Francine decides it’s time to meet his foster parents, Jeannette and Tucker, and to be a bigger part of Davie’s life. But when Francine starts falling for the married Jeannette, things take a very interesting turn. The making of the crash and burn, perhaps?
Renee Swindle’s novel Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn indeed does a spectacular and heartwarming job of showcasing how life is full of contradictions, and how unexpected connections can be a salve for seemingly boundless grief.
Swindle’s first win is her mastery of characters, who are genuine and multifaceted, carrying the same burdens, judgments and limitations that we might expect in our own life. Her second win is the accomplishment of addressing some heavy subjects like depression, racism and bullying in what still feels like a very tender, light and often humorous read. Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn is sure to deliver the excitement of overcoming adversity and new beginnings.
