Frozen fans and romance lovers will fall for this endearing tale.
Before Elsa and Anna from Frozen (2013) were born, their parents—Iduna, a Northuldra, and Agnarr, prince of Arendelle—faced their own trials and tribulations.
When Iduna was 12 she selflessly saved her enemy, which inadvertently led to her being separated from her family and trapped in Arendelle. Growing up alongside Agnarr, the two naturally became friends and, after some years, inseparable. Slowly, Iduna began to make a life for herself in Arendelle, knowing that she must keep her true identity a secret. All the while, Iduna and Agnarr’s chemistry grew undeniable, but as crown prince, Agnarr faced heavy pressure from the council to find a royal bride. Told mainly through Iduna’s first-person perspective, with a few chapters from Agnarr’s, the story of their friendship-turned-romance will swell readers’ hearts. Filled with tidbits from the movies and building upon Frozen lore, this simple love story is filled with all the things fans adore about the franchise: wholesome characters, love, and a little magic. Descriptive writing, two interesting and independent leads, and a warm cast of background characters enhance the story. Iduna and Agnarr’s relationship is one built on trust, equality, support, and kindness. Characters’ ethnicities are the same as the movies; Iduna and Agnarr are both White.
Frozen fans and romance lovers will fall for this endearing tale. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Nov. 3, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-368-06361-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Disney Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
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
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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