A chilling slasher that effectively explores legacy, identity, confronting the past—and refusing to be defined by it.
When the fifth dead body in five weeks turns up, 17-year-old Ash is determined to clear her name and uncover who’s behind the gruesome murders.
Ash is the daughter of Evelyn Hargreeves, who has the dubious honor of being among the youngest female serial killers on record. So when five girls in small-town Clossdale go missing and are later found dead, local detective Helen quickly suspects that Ash may be a copycat who’s following in her mother’s footsteps. With the help of her foster sister, Cassie, and her best friend, Jamie, pale-skinned, flaxen-haired Ash sets out not only to prove her own innocence but to reclaim her mother’s story as well. As their investigation deepens, the trio begins to close in on the sinister truth behind the killings. In their author-illustrator debut, Kubrick does an excellent job of reimagining familiar horror tropes, creating a story that feels both nostalgic and new. The rich illustrations heighten the emotional intensity, reinforcing key moments of fear and tension. The sharp, contemporary humor strikes a balance with the heavier elements that keeps the story engaging without undercutting its darker themes. The racially diverse cast is fully realized and dynamic, with each character bringing a distinct voice and perspective that adds depth to the story. The main cast is queer.
A chilling slasher that effectively explores legacy, identity, confronting the past—and refusing to be defined by it. (Graphic thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2026
ISBN: 9781665959827
Page Count: 328
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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