Two friendly neighborhood Spider-Heroes save the multiverse with the usual Spidey flair.
Two Latine superheroes in the Spider-Man multiverse team up to face time travel, parallel universes, and scary villains.
Brooklyn high schooler Anya Corazon, aka Araña, has only recently been imbued with spiderlike superpowers, but she already feels the weight of the responsibility of being a superhero and using her abilities for the good of those around her. But keeping up with schoolwork and friends while doing good in secret so Papi doesn’t find out is taking a toll—especially since her mentor and teacher was killed. When a near-death encounter with a new supervillain strands Araña, who is Mexican and Puerto Rican, on a futuristic Earth with her powers on the fritz, the only person she thinks she can count on is another Spider-Man. Billionaire CEO Miguel O’Hara was Spider-Man in the year 2099, but he retired after tragedies that killed people he loved. Now a kid from the past needs his help, and together they confront Judas Traveller, the villain who haunts them both. With a narrative that follows both Anya and Miguel, this funtastic novel sees both protagonists face their internal demons and struggle with what it means to be a superhero. Despite some repetitive beats in the main characters’ inner monologues, this is an exciting entry into the Spider-verse for newcomers and old fans alike that features other delightful Spidey cameos.
Two friendly neighborhood Spider-Heroes save the multiverse with the usual Spidey flair. (Science fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-368-07900-6
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Marvel Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
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
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