A compelling, darkly creative, and intensely haunting examination of the masks we wear.
Sisters return to their mother’s mysterious and legendary childhood home.
Libby’s mom grew up in the internet-famous haunted house Madame Clery’s House of Masks, at once deeply unsettling and incredibly beautiful underneath decades of neglect and overgrown blue roses. Despite never having taken Libby and her sister, Vivi, to visit, they move in, seeking a fresh start after Libby’s recent mental health crisis. As if the repercussions of her suicide attempt aren’t creating enough distance between her and her family, the more questions Libby has about the strange noises she hears at night, the intricate stained-glass insects in the windows, and the multiple disappearances of the house’s inhabitants, the more her mom seems to fall under its spell. Libby is left trying to solve the mystery with the help of redheaded neighbor Flynn, who definitely knows too much. In addition to dealing with the house’s deliciously spooky, haunted vibes and its accompanying legend and horrors, Libby is struggling with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which Fraistat does an excellent job of exploring both from Libby’s perspective and in terms of the emotional fissures it causes within her family. As well as being deeply emotional, the book contains many shudder-inducing moments that will leave readers’ skin crawling. The girls’ white mom, who may be aromantic or asexual, conceived them using sperm donors; Libby’s donor was white, and Vivi’s was Black.
A compelling, darkly creative, and intensely haunting examination of the masks we wear. (Horror. 12-18)Pub Date: Jan. 16, 2024
ISBN: 9780593382219
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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 fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz’s fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar’s first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div’s trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who’s been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir’s deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically.
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780593616949
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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