A charming, emotionally intelligent adventure.
A Florida teen’s webcomic reignites people’s belief in Korean gods, conjuring the deities into existence.
Overachiever Grace Bak is determined to do whatever it takes to follow in her parents’ footsteps and get into Boston University’s combined bachelor of science/doctor of medicine program. Grace is a “hive of anxiety,” struggling to prove her worth to her emotionally distant widower father, the peers she alienated during last semester’s “incident,” and herself. Only Zoe Ortiz, her nonbinary best friend, knows that Grace is the creator behind the viral webcomic Sun God, which is inspired by the Korean myths Grace’s late halmeoni used to tell her. In the comic, Haemosu, the titular sun god, and his lover, Yuhwa, are trapped in human bodies and cursed to attend public school. Powered by readers’ adoration, Grace’s characters come to life. The new boy at school turns out to be Haemosu, who’s unable to find his way home. As Grace tries to help him return to his realm, their friendship grows into a blossoming romance that’s tested when calamities strike. People contract smallpox and are attacked by terrifying monsters, events that point to the rageful water god Habaek, who commands Grace to stop meddling in celestial affairs. Cho’s insightful story embraces Korean culture while also depicting the social-emotional challenges of being Asian American in a predominantly white community. Grace’s relationship with Haemosu is grounded by her sincere journeys of navigating grief and embracing self-love.
A charming, emotionally intelligent adventure. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 13-18)Pub Date: April 21, 2026
ISBN: 9780593406816
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026
PERSPECTIVES
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
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
