Strange Bedfellows

In a futuristic world in which 60% of people have mutated to develop superpowers, transgender teen Oberon, who has a panic disorder, is the only one of his siblings without a powerful ability. After his life is thrown into disarray following an intense period of panic, Oberon drops out of college and isolates himself from those around him. Things take a turn when Kon, the boy of his dreams, inexplicably materializes before him. Kon is the imaginary and overly flirtatious version of Oberon’s high school crush, whom he hasn’t seen in years, brought to life by his newly awakened ability to conjure his own dreams. As Kon helps Oberon control his powers—and his life—the two spark a romance. But when Oberon’s night terrors force themselves free and jeopardize the world around him, the teens struggle to keep them at bay. All the while, Oberon must reckon with his and Kon’s relationship and decide whether holding on to a fantasy is better than reality. In this luminous love story, Ries (Witchy) examines issues surrounding mental health using vibrantly colored cartoon-style illustrations whose intricate details complement the dreamlike science fiction setting. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 13–up. (Mar.)