A brisk, suspenseful novel that boasts superpowers, of-the-moment issues, and a sublime young hero.
A teen suffers discrimination and uncovers a conspiracy in Solis’ YA supernatural thriller, one in a series.
In a world filled with people possessing fantastic powers, 15-year-old Alé Aragón was once deemed a Deficient, lacking an “accelerated ability” that many others have. But he survived a brutal fight, marking him as a Feral, a designation that means his ability—to come back from the dead—is outside the Common Six (such as the telekinesis practiced by “Mind Movers”). People now treat him almost as poorly as when he was a Deficient. Alé attends an assignation ceremony in which the prefectural governor announces the career paths that academy students like Alé will take. He trains to be part of the classified Blue Stars intelligence unit; because he can’t reveal specifics (“All affairs of the Blue Stars are kept private, for security purposes”), he’s effectively isolated from his comrades, including his best friend, Yalamba (who’s also a Feral; her drawings come to life). Alé excels in his training, despite the occasional malfunctioning equipment during simulations. Could this be attempted sabotage? In this tautly written tale, Solis tackles themes of bigotry: While Alé, who’s queer, receives no hate for his sexual orientation, others act as if his “passive” ability makes him worthless. The story’s symbolism is sometimes a bit on the surface—Alé had been “misclassified” for years. Still, the animosity thrown at him is heartbreakingly realistic as the loathsome attitudes of his father and brothers fracture the family. Alé’s entanglement in something shady deepens as the narrative rolls along, with each scene seeming to deliver a new surprise and someone else Alé must keep an eye on, for reasons of suspicion or concern. Alé is an easy protagonist to root for—he’s smart and resourceful, and he doesn’t let his mistakes completely derail him. His doggedness leads him to some startling revelations, a nerve-wracking confrontation, and an ending that will surely leave readers eager for the next installment.
A brisk, suspenseful novel that boasts superpowers, of-the-moment issues, and a sublime young hero.Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2026
ISBN: 9798998545559
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Aug. 18, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A descriptive and atmospheric paranormal social thriller that could be a bit tighter.
After a Nigerian British girl goes off to an exclusive boarding school that seems to prey on less-privileged students, she discovers there might be some truth behind an urban legend.
Ife Adebola joins the Urban Achievers scholarship program at pricey, high-pressure Nithercott School, arriving shortly after a student called Leon mysteriously disappeared. Gossip says he’s a victim of the glowing-eyed Changing Man who targets the lonely, leaving them changed. Ife doesn’t believe in the myth, but amid the stresses of Nithercott’s competitive, privileged, majority-white environment, where she is constantly reminded of her state school background, she does miss her friends and family. When Malika, a fellow Black scholarship student, disappears and then returns, acting strangely devoid of personality, Ife worries the Changing Man is real—and that she’s next. Ife joins forces with classmate Bijal and Benny, Leon’s younger brother, to uncover the truth about who the Changing Man is and what he wants. Culminating in a detailed, gory, and extended climactic battle, this verbose thriller tempts readers with a nefarious mystery involving racial and class-based violence but never quite lives up to its potential and peters out thematically by its explosive finale. However, this debut offers highly visually evocative and eerie descriptions of characters and events and will appeal to fans of creature horror, social commentary, and dark academia.
A descriptive and atmospheric paranormal social thriller that could be a bit tighter. (Thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9781250868138
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
A powerful story of family, belonging, and identity interlaced with thriller elements.
A wary teen wonders if she should run when people come looking for her.
Lucy Smith was raised by her white father, who said little about her mother. Following his death and her stepmother’s abandonment, Lucy entered the foster care system at 14. Her stepmother revealed that Lucy’s birth mom was Native American, but her social worker urged her to keep that quiet. Battered by her time in the foster care system, it’s no wonder that 18-year-old Lucy is cautious when she’s approached by a man who says he’s an attorney who helps Native American foster kids connect with their families and communities. He introduces her to a friend who reveals to Lucy that she knows her Ojibwe maternal relatives—but a wary Lucy refuses her offer to learn more. Someone is stalking her, after all, and the FBI is investigating the bomb that went off in the diner where she worked—an event she’s sure targeted her. This stand-alone from bestseller Boulley, who’s an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, includes characters her fans will recognize from previous works. The action scenes are mediated by ruminations on the failings of the foster care system and strong portrayals of Lucy’s relationship with her father and her complicated identity. Ardent book lover Lucy is a sympathetic narrator whose strong sense of justice is coupled with a deep acceptance of others.
A powerful story of family, belonging, and identity interlaced with thriller elements. (content warning, author’s note) (Thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781250328533
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PROFILES
PERSPECTIVES
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.
