Colorful characters and prose animate this succinct but expressive tale.
A trio of people with the same destination take divergent paths in Phillips’ illustrated YA novella.
In this story, written as a narrative poem, two young men and a young woman travel to a place called Reverie. When they come upon an old, weathered tree, any hint of a road or direction seemingly disappears. One man, who’s already had trouble believing in Reverie, becomes discouraged and apathetic. The other man remains hopeful but simply doesn’t know which way he should go. The woman takes a moment to contemplate. She knows “to use more than [her] eyes,” seeing this tree as more than a marker on their journey. After years of storms, the knotted tree continues to stand strong; it can most certainly point the way for the travelers, helping them find the determination they need to make it to Reverie. (“Tis not the road that guides the way, / but courage to brave what comes each day.”) Phillips’ rhyming stanzas are heavy in metaphor but never overwhelmingly so. This brief, encouraging narrative urges readers to embrace their inner strength (the tree embodies survival as the sole sign of life in the apparent middle of nowhere). The young adult characters portray relatable feelings, from frustration and blind hope to an adamant refusal to give up. The author’s lyrical narrative focuses on the characters while maintaining a strong message: “The tree, though twisted, gnarled, and bent / is the sum of all our trials spent. / Each knot and branch, a memory, / of battles faced, our history.” DiLisi’s artwork tells the story just as indelibly: Sublime muted tones fill every page and depict a barren landscape with a multicolored horizon. The true gem is the eponymous tree, with its complex assembly of leafless branches, its collection of scars, and its mighty root flare.
Colorful characters and prose animate this succinct but expressive tale.Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2025
ISBN: 9798218835309
Page Count: 38
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 30, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told.
The 17-year-old son of a troubled rock star is determined to find his own way in life and love.
On the verge of adulthood, Blade Morrison wants to leave his father’s bad-boy reputation for drug-and-alcohol–induced antics and his sister’s edgy lifestyle behind. The death of his mother 10 years ago left them all without an anchor. Named for the black superhero, Blade shares his family’s connection to music but resents the paparazzi that prevent him from having an open relationship with the girl that he loves. However, there is one secret even Blade is unaware of, and when his sister reveals the truth of his heritage during a bitter fight, Blade is stunned. When he finally gains some measure of equilibrium, he decides to investigate, embarking on a search that will lead him to a small, remote village in Ghana. Along the way, he meets people with a sense of purpose, especially Joy, a young Ghanaian who helps him despite her suspicions of Americans. This rich novel in verse is full of the music that forms its core. In addition to Alexander and co-author Hess’ skilled use of language, references to classic rock songs abound. Secondary characters add texture to the story: does his girlfriend have real feelings for Blade? Is there more to his father than his inability to stay clean and sober? At the center is Blade, fully realized and achingly real in his pain and confusion.
A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told. (Verse fiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-310-76183-9
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Blink
Review Posted Online: April 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2017
PERSPECTIVES
A timely and unabashedly feminist twist on a classic fairy tale.
Sixteen-year-old Bisou Martel’s life takes a profound turn after encountering an aggressive wolf.
Following an embarrassing incident between Bisou and her boyfriend, James, after the homecoming dance, a humiliated Bisou runs into the Pacific Northwest woods. There, she kills a giant wolf who viciously attacks her, upending the quiet life she’s lived with her Mémé, a poet, since her mother’s violent death. The next day it’s revealed that her classmate Tucker— who drunkenly came on to her at the dance—was found dead in the woods with wounds identical to the ones Bisou inflicted on the wolf. When she rescues Keisha, an outspoken journalist for the school paper, from a similar wolf attack, Bisou gains an ally, and her Mémé reveals her bloody and brave legacy, which is inextricably tied to the moon and her menstrual cycle. Bisou needs her new powers in the coming days, as more wolves lie in wait. Arnold (Damsel, 2018, etc.) uses an intriguing blend of magic realism, lyrical prose, and imagery that evokes intimate physical and emotional aspects of young womanhood. Bisou’s loving relationship with gentle, kind James contrasts with the frank exploration of male entitlement and the disturbing incel phenomenon. Bisou and Mémé seem to be white, Keisha is cued as black, James has light-brown skin and black eyes, and there is diversity in the supporting cast.
A timely and unabashedly feminist twist on a classic fairy tale. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-06-274235-3
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2019
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