An expertly written SF tale that keeps the stakes high.
When a lethal extraterrestrial race wreaks havoc, a Michigan teen and her dog must make the dangerous trek to a safe zone over 100 miles away in Ash’s YA SF novel.
In 2034, aliens invade Earth to plunder its supply of fresh water. Addie Moore, a bullied and friendless 17-year-old with perfect recall, is with her parents and her trusty Brittany bird dog, Gibson, at their vacation house in Manistee, Michigan. The aggressive aliens, known as “Nubees,” are tall and gray-skinned with insectile wings and doglike faces. Addie’s father, an extraterrestrial technology specialist for the U.S. Department of Defense, has planned ahead, making sure that the Moores have a well-equipped bunker. But their supplies aren’t unlimited, and 16 days in, he leaves to assess the state of things. When he doesn’t return the next morning, Addie’s mother leaves to look for him. About 10 days after that, the oxygen-pumping generator runs out of power, and Addie, carrying a backpack containing such supplies as a first aid kit and hydration packs, ventures outside with Gibson. Her goal is to make it to the safe zone in Midland, about 130 miles away. The problem is that Nubees are seemingly everywhere, and they’re fearsome hunters who kill some humans and take others captive. Addie runs into Sawyer Thompson, the son of her parents’ friends; despite their rocky start, the two decide to travel to the safe zone together. But then Sawyer is taken by the Nubees, and Addie decides that she must risk it all to save him—and possibly others. Ash’s latest novel is, at its heart, a fast-paced and gripping coming-of-age story about survival and resilience. The protagonist and her loyal, protective dog are both compelling point-of-view characters, and the author shows great skill at characterization, with even minor players engaging and distinctive. Readers will be especially intrigued—and terrified—by the Nubees, who are delightfully vicious. Devotees of survival-focused SF will also appreciate that the aliens aren’t the only threat to Addie’s and Gibson’s lives; their encounters with other humans often prove to be just as dangerous.
An expertly written SF tale that keeps the stakes high.Pub Date: July 7, 2026
ISBN: 9798996017430
Page Count: 302
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Aug. 21, 2026
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
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia.
A teenage witch goes up against the evil king of the mountain to save a cursed village.
Witch-in-training Verity Vox has spent a year apiece in different villages, helping in any way she can as she learns her art. When it’s time to move on, she receives a sign that shows her where to go next. When the latest sign appears in the form of a note begging for help that floats down on a leaf, she’s eager for the challenge. Verity winds up in Foxfire, a village in the Appalachian mountains that’s been magically cut off from the rest of the world for years, leaving its people close to starvation. The root of their suffering is a man they know as Earl, who lives in the hills and strikes deals with the townspeople that ultimately cause crops to wither, folks to disappear, and the only bridge out of the valley to crumble. Verity is determined to change the villagers’ fortunes, but to do so she’ll have to face off against not just Earl but the ancient power of the mountains itself. Loosely based on the Germanic Erlking legend and told in a voice reminiscent of folktales, the story features a queer romance and a cast that presents white. The convoluted magic system undercuts the strong themes of reciprocity, poverty, and privilege, but Appalachian readers will instantly recognize home.
A sweet if muddled tale of the magic of Appalachia. (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9798890032706
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
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