A poignant and timely rumination on power, resistance, and compassion.
A young girl makes an unexpected animal friend in Balsara’s ambitious YA novel.
Ananda Blake is still reeling from the death of her beloved grandmother and her family’s abrupt move near the end of her junior year of high school. She struggles to fit in at her new school, especially after a video circulates of her making a public scene to save a rat at a local market. At home, her emotionally distant parents leave her feeling increasingly isolated. In a parallel narrative, Fin is a rat who’s been raised by his uncle (the rats’ Council chairman, known only as Papa) since his mother’s death when he was very young. He’s been taught to hate humans, known as “Two-Legs,” and he becomes an ardent supporter of Papa’s escalating campaign against humanity after he discovers a “Killing Chamber,”filled with caged rats. After Papa unveils a plan to resurrect the bubonic plague, Fin has a chance encounter with Ananda, who releases him from a trap;this interaction forces him to confront the brutal realities of the war that he and his fellow rats are waging. As the plague spreads rapidly around the world, both Fin and Ananda reckon with feelings of fear and loss but find the healing power of connection. Over the course of this novel, Balsara deftly incorporates the history of the Black Death and quotes from Soviet dictator Josef Stalin to give the novel’s exploration of authoritarianism, propaganda, and biological warfare a feeling of historical weight. Although the subject matter is heavy—touching on themes of trauma, abuse, and suicidal ideation—it’s all handled with care and nuance, making the story suitable for younger readers without diminishing its emotional resonance. This context also gives depth to the characters, especially Ananda and Fin, as they navigate their own family dynamics and emotions in a plague-ridden world. Secondary characters undergo their own arcs, with Ananda’s dad, Tom, and Fin’s friend Zumi growing significantly by the novel’s end. The author’s occasional grayscale illustrations of characters and events punctuate the text throughout.
A poignant and timely rumination on power, resistance, and compassion.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781988761947
Page Count: 332
Publisher: Common Deer Press
Review Posted Online: July 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
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
© 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.
