A fantastic, engaging, mythology-rich tale about family, murder, and, above all, balance and change.
The killing of a goddess tears the world—and her three children—apart in this YA fantasy.
Theodore, Fanta, and Tores are the triplet Major gods of Sleep, Dream, and Nightmares, respectively. They once lived together in Zion. But after the murder of their goddess mother, the All-Mother, when Night disappeared from the skies, they decided to reside in domains separated by the gates of Ivory, the material of Dreams and Horn, and the material of Nightmares in order to prevent a civil war. Ever since, the siblings have been filled with mistrust and remain suspicious of one another—after all, who else but a Major could kill the Night? The creatures and Minor gods who inhabit their domains harbor the same apprehensions. Now, it is time for a new Majoracle, the festival that takes place on the siblings’ birthday, when the gates are closed to mortals and the Major and Minor gods can rest for a few days. But just before the Majoracle begins, a mysterious child enters Theo’s domain, a youngster who may spark explosive, life-altering consequences for everyone. If Tores gets his hands on the child, perhaps the god can finally achieve what he wants the most: access to Dream Country, his sister’s domain, and a way to be rid of the Nightmares once and for all. Peppered with Brazilian and Kenyan cultural references, Brown’s beautifully written novel delivers an inventive, dreamlike tale about a dysfunctional family whose love-hate dynamics are infused with wariness, envy, and yearning. The book rewards patient readers who enjoy slow revelations and striking stories with thought-provoking elements of theology and mythology. The chapters deftly alternate between peaceful, unassuming Theo and bitter, assertive Tores. This leaves Fanta still a delectable mystery to readers, with a promise of more to come by the time the bracing narrative reaches its explosive twist ending.
A fantastic, engaging, mythology-rich tale about family, murder, and, above all, balance and change.Pub Date: April 27, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-916042-98-8
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Onwe Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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
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