Character-focused science fiction that packs a punch.
Sometimes the real battle is in your mind.
Sixteen-year-old Tallie Hadderson has dreamed of being a mech-bot pilot since she was 10. Mech battles, “one of the most popular sporting events in the world,” pit towering robots against each other in epic battles. Each machine is maneuvered by two pilots who meld their minds, revealing all their thoughts and emotions in order to create seamless operations. Now entering her final year of training, Tallie hopes to be paired with Diego Rodrigues, her best friend since kindergarten and one of the few people who know that she’s autistic. Instead, Tallie is paired with Zaina Chandra, a virtual unknown who’s just joined the team after getting kicked off another. Despite their “successful mind fit,” Zaina and Tallie can’t seem to get in sync. Neither girl is willing to truly let the other in, and the consequences are disastrous. Their inability to connect causes them to crash their bot their first time out. To achieve their dreams, the two must find a way to fully trust one another and let go of their baggage—or risk losing everything. Although the characterization is largely told rather than shown, the fast pace and engaging plot will draw in reluctant readers. The writing is tight and accessible, and there’s some exploration of Tallie’s experiences as a neurodivergent person. Tallie presents white, and there’s racial diversity among the supporting cast.
Character-focused science fiction that packs a punch. (Science fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: April 14, 2026
ISBN: 9781459841925
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
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
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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