Nuanced characterization and crackerjack pacing make this an addictive page-turner for fans of the first, but it’s unlikely...
Teenagers exiled to an endless labyrinth prowled by mythological monsters struggle to survive in this gruesome and gripping fantasy sequel.
The unnamed 17-year-old narrator resolves to imitate the steely indifference of her mentor, the Executioner, but a brutal attack on Fates—the group that rescued her, then abandoned her to die—ensnares her in the bloody rivalry between the all-male Kleos and the all-female Harmonia, undermining any hope of escape. The protagonist’s affected namelessness (and egregiously symbolic nickname, “Fey Bell”) quickly palls; otherwise, her capable, decisive, almost-legendary prowess represents a stunning transformation from her passive helplessness in the previous title in the series. Much to her own confusion (and sometime annoyance), she even gets a taste of romance, cueing the inevitable love triangle. Still, the plot is mostly driven by a complex tangle of interactions between various factions. Gender dynamics (and threats of sexual violence) constantly simmer underneath but never as graphically as the danger from marauding predators or the even more appalling savagery of fellow humans. Glancing references to hair and eye color suggest a default white majority while hinting at another, darker-skinned ethnicity.
Nuanced characterization and crackerjack pacing make this an addictive page-turner for fans of the first, but it’s unlikely to hook any new readers. (Dystopian fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: April 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-63079-086-8
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Feb. 4, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2018
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
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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