Brimming with action, folklore, and fearless friendship; a fantasy in which loyalty and love prove just as powerful as magic.
Eighteen-year-old Caroline Chua ends her five-year banishment at a magical academy in New York City—a consequence of “the Incident”—when her older brother’s disappearance calls her home to Malaysia.
Aaron, who’s destined to uphold the Chua family legacy as the next High Protector of Penang Island’s Magical Council, has been kidnapped by vengeful spirits who are seeking to seize control. With only a week until the Hungry Ghost Festival—a time when the veil between the living and the dead thins—headstrong Caro must reunite with old friends Athena, Arabella, J.J., and Zati to defend her island home. As she battles external enemies, Caro also confronts her inner struggles: lingering self-doubt, the shame of exile, and the weight of family duty. A shocking betrayal, a surprising revelation, and the kindling of a romance with J.J. add emotional depth to the action-driven plot. While the frequent battle scenes occasionally slow the story’s momentum, the novel’s heart lies in its strong portrayals of friendship, loyalty, and the courage to stand together against darkness. Debut novelist Chong deftly weaves Malaysian folklore and the lore of the Hungry Ghost Festival into a vivid modern fantasy setting, enriching the story with cultural texture, moments of light humor, and lots of heart.
Brimming with action, folklore, and fearless friendship; a fantasy in which loyalty and love prove just as powerful as magic. (map, author’s note) (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: March 17, 2026
ISBN: 9780593860106
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz’s fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar’s first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div’s trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who’s been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir’s deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically.
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780593616949
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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