An inspiring, clear-eyed tribute to intellectual freedom and the impact of youth-led resistance.
A book ban sparks student activism in this graphic novel based on real events.
When Marjane Satrapi’s graphic memoir Persepolis is abruptly pulled from classrooms in Chicago Public Schools, a diverse ensemble of teens at Curtis Tech express their outrage. Best friends Aoife and Kendall plan a walk-out protest. Student journalists Xochitl and Jackson are determined to use the power of the press to make a stand. The ban brings up painful memories for Stanford-bound senior Weston, who’s aware, thanks to traumas in his personal history that are mirrored by events in Satrapi’s book, of the risks of speaking out. Aditi, an immigrant who works hard to make her parents’ sacrifices worthwhile, is jolted into re-evaluating the cost of achievement. Meanwhile, teachers push back in their own ways, fostering conversations about freedom of access and the motivations behind censorship. As the movement gains national attention, Aoife and Kendall’s friendship is tested, but they—along with the other students—begin to realize the power and potential that they hold. Kang’s limited color palette of muted shades of blue effectively complements Dungo’s clean and expressive artwork that features thick, fluid black lines. The cover of Persepolis adds occasional pops of red. The characters are drawn with wit and warmth, emphasizing the deeply human stories that anchor the story. Dapier, a librarian who witnessed the 2013 ban firsthand, interviewed student leaders to shape the story.
An inspiring, clear-eyed tribute to intellectual freedom and the impact of youth-led resistance. (author’s note) (Graphic fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9780593838044
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Review Posted Online: Nov. 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
A high-concept premise that falls short in its execution.
A teenage girl finds herself alone after everyone else in her town mysteriously disappears, leaving her scrambling to figure out how to find them all.
One late summer day, everybody in July Fielding’s town disappears. She is left to piece together what happened, following a series of cryptic signs she finds around town urging her to “GET THEM BACK.” The narrative moves back and forth between July’s present and the events of the summer before, when her relationship with her best friend, cross-country team co-captain Sydney, starts to fracture due to a combination of jealousy over July’s new relationship with a cute boy called Sam and sweet up-and-coming freshman Ella’s threatening to overtake Syd’s status as star of the track team. The team members participate in a ritual in which they jump off a cliff into the rocky waters below at the end of their Friday practice runs. Though Ella is reluctant, Syd pressures her to jump. Short, frenetically paced sections move the story along quickly, and there is much foreshadowing pointing to something terrible that occurred at the end of that summer, which may be the key to July’s current predicament, but there is much misdirection too. Ultimately this is a story without enough setup to make the turn the book takes in the end feel fully developed or earned. All characters read white.
A high-concept premise that falls short in its execution. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2023
ISBN: 9780593327173
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
A great read offering entertainment, encouragement, and plenty to reflect upon.
A gay teen contends with time travel—and homophobia through the decades.
All Cuban American Luis wants is to be prom king with his boyfriend, but tiny upstate New York boarding school Antic Springs Academy, with its strict, Christian code of conduct, won’t even let them hold hands in public. After a disastrous prom committee meeting at which his attempt to make the event welcoming of queer couples is rejected by the principal, Luis gets quite literally knocked into the past—specifically, ASA in the year 1985. There he meets Chaz, a Black student who attended the school at the same time as Luis’ parents and who died under mysterious circumstances after being bullied for his sexuality. Luis now faces a choice between changing the past to help Chaz and preserving his own future existence. Fortunately, he has Ms. Silverthorn, a Black English teacher and beloved mentor, who offers him support in both timelines. The narrative explores the impacts of homophobia and being closeted, remaining optimistic without shying away from the more brutal aspects. Luis is a multifaceted character with an engaging voice whose flaws are confronted and examined throughout. The solid pacing and pleasant, fluid prose make this a page-turner. Luis’ boyfriend is cued as Chinese American, and his best friend is nonbinary; there is some diversity in ethnicity and sexuality in background characters, although the school is predominantly White.
A great read offering entertainment, encouragement, and plenty to reflect upon. (author's note) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0710-5
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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