Highlights the importance of community and cultural connection as roots for embracing one’s identity.
A wholesome story about self-acceptance.
Cree teenager Chase has two close friends, Kevin and Jade. His homophobic hockey teammate Leo continually picks on him for hanging out with Kevin, calling them boyfriends. School is hard enough already—add in feeling different from the other boys, and for Chase, it’s too much. He distances himself from Kevin and starts hanging out more with Jade, even trying to kiss her just to fit in. When the hockey team learns that a scout is coming to see them play, Chase decides to focus wholeheartedly on sports. As he pushes his friends away and lashes out at his grandmother, isolating himself, everything comes to a boiling point. The story focuses on Chase’s internal conflict: He dreams of a giant, imposing bear (which an elder explains is a symbol that can inspire “us to face our greatest enemy—ourselves”) as well as of worst-case scenarios in which he’s bullied by his teammates and coach. In reality, only Leo is outwardly hostile, and his school offers support for queer students, including running a gay-straight alliance and hosting a Two-Spirit filmmaker from Manitoba’s River Winds Nation; it’s largely Chase’s internalized homophobia that holds him back. The straightforward story, which prominently features shades of pink in the illustrations, also includes positive depictions of Indigenous culture, through acts of smudging and Cree vocabulary.
Highlights the importance of community and cultural connection as roots for embracing one’s identity. (content warning, authors’ note) (Graphic fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2024
ISBN: 9781774921043
Page Count: 56
Publisher: HighWater Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2024
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
A suspenseful story that starts off with great promise but fails to deliver.
A teenage girl struggles with the question of whom to trust in the age of social media exposure.
Thanks to Connie’s mom’s family vlog, her life is anything but private. She enjoyed it at first, but now, between the mean comments online and the cruel mockery from peers in real life, Connie feels like she’s in a prison. Her sister, Isla, says it’s worth it for the money, but Connie isn’t sure if that’s really true. Connie’s anger over Mom’s refusal to heed warnings that revealing so much puts them in danger continues to build. When she’s left alone for two weeks while Mom and Isla go on a college road trip, local girls start dying, and a fan reaches out on social media in an unsettling way, leaving Connie worried about her safety. White-presenting Connie’s sense of humor is charming, and her insights will earn readers’ sympathy as the tension builds. As emotions rise, Preston’s poetic language beautifully captures Connie’s feelings about her mom’s obsession with social media and her confusion about who is worthy of her trust. The topics of safety and the uncharted waters of social media are skillfully woven into the plot. However, some inconsistencies weaken the overall story: Apart from Connie, the characters are too lightly developed, and some plot points don’t align with earlier events and motivations, making the ultimate revelation a disappointment.
A suspenseful story that starts off with great promise but fails to deliver. (Thriller. 12-18)Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9798217028009
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
