A science-fiction romance grounded by human emotion and personal triumph.
Two former friends in River Meadows, Illinois, find themselves trapped in a graduation day time loop.
Chris O’Brien is stuck: He’s forced to relive his high school graduation day over and over again. The varsity swimmer, who reads white, believes that if he can orchestrate the perfect first kiss with the girl he likes, Miranda “Andy” Feldman, then he’ll rejoin the normal timeline. The only person who can help him escape the loop is childhood friend Alicia Ochoa, yearbook editor and valedictorian of River West’s class of 2025—but Chris hurt her feelings when he ditched her in favor of a new friend group in middle school. Mexican American Alicia has been repeating graduation day for almost a year, creating viral videos, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and caring for her four younger siblings. The teens must face what the future holds for them, along with new feelings that emerge as they navigate life on repeat together. Jane Ido-Cantor, Chris’ teacher and swim coach, died in a car accident before graduation day, a tragedy that brings an element of solemnity to the story, balancing the humorous and lighthearted moments. The expressive illustrations use monochromatic color schemes; blue denotes flashbacks, while the time-loop scenes rotate through the colors of the rainbow. Thoughtful character development and the exploration of larger questions of grief and identity take center stage over the technical details of the timeline’s mechanics.
A science-fiction romance grounded by human emotion and personal triumph. (Graphic science fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250851840
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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
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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