A plodding tale with some enjoyable highlights.
A teen’s Disneyland graduation celebration leads to reliving the same experiences until she discovers how to change the path she’s on.
Cass Issac, a recent graduate of Harbor Cove High, has attended 16 schools, making her a pro at goodbyes. Three weeks before graduation, her dads (who run a house-flipping business) announced that they’ll be moving to Oregon, making Disney Grad Nite her last in California. Cass has learned it’s best to leave when things are “at their peak,” so she doesn’t tell her best friend, Bryony Tsai, the news, choosing instead to focus on making the party an epic final memory. But once they’re inside Disney’s California Adventure, nothing goes the way Cass planned. Despite a meet-cute and instant connection with cute British bass player Freddie Sharma from boy band Eton Mess, Cass tries to flee after coming face-to-face with angry friends she’s ghosted. Cass’ wish to have “a chance to do things over and make things right” thrusts her into a time loop. The Disney backdrop is as important as the characters, with each iteration of the time loop feeling like an ode to a restaurant, ride, or character. Despite some entertaining moments and the meaningful central message of appreciating the time we have and the people in our lives, Cass’ slow growth makes the reading experience monotonous, impeding readers’ connection with the characters. Cass presents white, and the supporting cast contains ethnic diversity.
A plodding tale with some enjoyable highlights. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781368097420
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 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
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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