Per an author’s note, Cooke “pays homage to my ancestors and the roads they walked for freedom” in this “Rapunzel”-reminiscent telling. “Long, long ago, Somewhere far, far away,” the leaves of a callaloo tree grant wishes to a small village’s residents, who “had everything they needed and everything they wanted.” When a greedy man from the village desires “ALL for himself,” he steals the tree and wishes for extravagances, neglecting the plant until only one leaf remains. When a couple who wish for a child are told where the leaf is, they bravely retrieve it, wishing upon it for a child who is born with “luscious Afro curly locks” that grow “far and wide” under their care. The child—Lou—is kidnapped and exploited for years by the evil man, who cuts her hair until a wise old woman persuades him to let her braid it. The intricate patterns (“marked with tenderness”) form a map for Lou to find her way home, where a tiny seed falls from her. Bass’s vibrant gouache illustrations conjure a lush and fanciful landscape, befitting this moving work that twines magic, map, and story. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3–7. (Sept.)

Reviewed on 08/16/2024 | Details & Permalink

Princess Clara finds a small ogre in the palace garden near a pond, and because she’s terribly lonely—her mother has died, and her father is always gone—she takes him home and keeps him in her shoe. (Digitally finished colored pencil and watercolor artwork by Gravett reveals glimpses of the ogre, whose green body and big eyes suggest a more familiar creature.) While the little ogre “was very happy,” Princess Clara dislikes her solitary life as well as the persnickety nanny who makes her dress up, the butler who forbids skipping, and the gardener who calls her “nuisance child.” When the ogre asks Clara about her dearest wish, events unspool quickly and triumphantly. Imaginative vignettes are full of motion and charm, and in the hands of Mopurgo, fairy tale elements are shuffled and reassembled to produce a telling that feels both fresh and familiar. Primary characters are portrayed with pale skin. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 08/16/2024 | Details & Permalink

Taking up more than 1.5 million square feet and boasting more than 600 rooms, plus its own subway system, barbershop, and dining options, the U.S. Capitol proves a fascinating subject in this cutaway-feeling view of its inner workings by Andersen Bower (The Hidden History of the White House, for adults). In three parts rendered in meticulous detail, the author covers the building’s development, staff, and significance beginning with its initial construction, which was completed by more than 200 enslaved laborers in 1793. Chapters relating the complicated ins and outs of running this small city highlight individuals like Daryl Chappelle, who was the conductor of the Senate subway for 44 years. Later sections describe occasions and legislators who have made history within its halls, such as Hiram Revels, the first Black senator, and Barney Frank, who in 1987 became the first member of Congress to come out as gay. To showcase how the “Capitol has been the site of important moments throughout history,” Andersen Brower additionally spotlights “five incredible days on Capitol Hill” from 1814 to 2021. Archival photos bring the Capitol to life, reminding readers that “understanding the past helps us make sense of where we are today.” Ages 8–12. Agent: Howard Yoon, Ross Yoon Literary. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 08/16/2024 | Details & Permalink

The story of the sled dogs that braved a blizzard, transporting serum to quell a 1925 diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska, has been told before, via the story of Balto the dog. In this picture book, mother-daughter collaborators the Potters (Cher Ami) spotlight another participant: sled dog leader Togo, who led the most challenging part of that relay, traveling, per back matter, 261 miles in five days under brutal conditions. Togo’s strength and special character are apparent early on when his owner, Leonhard Seppala (1877–1967), tries to give the obstreperous pup away and the animal returns, leaping through a glass window to reach him. Eventually, Togo’s fighting spirit leads Seppala to make him the head of his sled dog team. During a precisely planned operation that spans 674 miles and involves 150 dogs, Seppala elects to cut across the frozen Norton Sound, a shortcut that saves time but subjects the team to frigid winds and mortal danger from shifting ice floes, all of which Togo helps the team to overcome. Folk-style watercolor paintings give the characters a classic, sculptural feel in a triumphant telling filled with depth and excitement. Human characters are portrayed with varying skin tones. An author’s note acknowledges changes made to the historical story. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 08/16/2024 | Details & Permalink

Teenage Julie embarks on a journey to find her mysterious father and subsequently becomes involved in a series of precarious situations that include archetypal pirate beats such as kidnappings and sword battles in this swashbuckling graphic novel. Yearning for adventure—and answers to her family’s shadowy past—the estranged daughter of the pirate king joins the Great Dolphin’s crew, along the way befriending an eclectic, intersectionally diverse crew of adventurers like herself, including queer adults Maxime and Stephanie, who become Julie’s adoptive guardians. Italian writer Frigerio suffuses Julie’s quest with nonstop action, making for a page-turning narrative; illustrations by Roman comics artist Pigliamosche adopt a nostalgic and affable aesthetic reminiscent of celebrated pirate films, using broad swathes of saturated color to connote movement and ambiance. Though abrupt transitions between scenes often omit crucial details, potentially leaving readers feeling disoriented, they nevertheless set a fast pace against which high-adrenaline action unfolds. The creators’ intriguing premise and visually captivating art combine for a rousing romp ideal for those yearning for epic pirate adventures. Ages 14–up. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 08/16/2024 | Details & Permalink

Lambert (Dark Spaces, for adults) fuses ancient myth with modern anxieties to conjure an unsettling world in this dark and atmospheric graphic novel fairy tale. Twelve-year-old Madeline Tock, who can hear the whispers of the dead, lives next to a graveyard with her father in a world of perpetual night. Her life changes dramatically when she learns about the Night Mother, an otherworldly being who gathers the souls of the dead during each full moon. When the Night Mother’s growing hunger for power drives her to start harvesting the spirits of the living, Madeline endeavors to confront her. Evocative compositions by Sharpe highlight the story’s grotesque supernatural elements to complement Madeline’s resilience in the face of darkness, which forms the emotional core of this eerie narrative. The illustrator’s use of light and shadow enhances the thematic tension between hope, fear, love, and loss. The author similarly adds depth and pathos to the adventure’s thrilling elements by exploring family dynamics and personal demons through Madeline’s struggle to overcome her past and protect her loved ones. It’s a haunting yet poignant story with a cliffhanger ending that will leave readers hungry for more. Characters are rendered with varying skin tones. Ages 9–up. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 08/16/2024 | Details & Permalink

Teen Lucia Arduini wants one thing: to be out from under the control of the Silverhands, a criminal group to whom her now-absent father is indebted. Forced to work for the Silverhands to repay the debt, she hides her magical glamoturas ability (“Better I be a simple thief than a glamorist”) and concludes that the solution to freeing herself and her family is located on the island of Estaralla, the source of all magic. Through a clever series of cons, Lucia makes her way to the hallowed island disguised as a tour guide assigned to the wife and daughter of a wealthy admiral—only to discover that Estaralla is not the paradise she’d been promised. Her former relationship with Estralla local Antony, and her attraction to her island host’s daughter Calista, complicates matters further. Luken’s debut paints a dark portrait of the consequences of unchecked magic and desire. Blending a healthy dose of introspection surrounding the metaphorical masks people wear with evocative storytelling, Luken presents an Italian-inspired, Fantasy Island–esque tale with an insidiously evil twist. Ages 14–up. Agent: Sarah Fisk, Tobias Literary. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 08/16/2024 | Details & Permalink

Ever since her mother died when she was four, high school junior Hannah Lynn has acted as the responsible adult in her household: her hardworking father is loving but clueless about the home’s daily goings-on, and her much older sister Pauline struggles with substance dependency. Taciturn Hannah plans to escape her judgmental small Maine town by attending her mother’s alma mater, Tufts, a secret known only by her crush and chemistry tutor, Richard. After Pauline loses custody of her two sons, Hannah’s dad agrees to take them in, swearing to Hannah that the arrangement will last “just until” Pauline’s life stabilizes. Hannah grudgingly accepts the major burden of the work helping the traumatized 13- and nine-year-old navigate issues such as night terrors and food hoarding. And then, when Hannah’s hoped-for future seems within her grasp, her father’s health begins to deteriorate. Moldover (Every Moment After) employs sensitivity and nuance to depict Hannah’s determination to secure financial stability and do right by her nephews and herself. Her evolution from reticence to fierce advocate radiates with heart. The cast is white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Adam Schear, DeFiore & Co. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 08/16/2024 | Details & Permalink

Eight students from elite Los Angeles high school Warner Prep and their counselor arrive at isolated Bear Point Lodge in the Colorado mountains for a device-free weekend as part of their Senior Excursion. With no other visitors and no staff on-site, they settle in for cross-country skiing, binge-drinking, and a strip version of the board game Oh, the Humanity. Chapters that alternate between the teens—but focus primarily on students Piper, Willa, and Delaney—include timestamps that differentiate present-day scenes from flashbacks that occur three years prior at a party in a Malibu mansion. On the mountaintop, it begins to snow, forcing the group to bunker down. But when one of their classmates turns up dead and the power goes out, taking the heat along with it, the Warner Prep teens become embroiled in an epic fight for survival against the elements as well as a killer at-large. Donne (Pretty Dead Queens) injects ample mystery into the narrative via the wealth of shifting perspectives and timelines, culminating in an intentionally disorienting whodunit. Readers will rejoice in feeling part of the characters’ investigative team in this entertaining thriller that ticks all the right boxes. Piper, Willa, and Delaney read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Elana Roth Parker, Laura Dail Literary. (Oct.)

Reviewed on 08/16/2024 | Details & Permalink

A 17-year-old learns a devastating secret regarding her insular hometown in this Ray Bradbury–esque paranormal fantasy from Thomas (Seton Girls). In Streetlight, the Have-Nots and the Have-Lots don’t intermingle save for working-class public school kid Kady Dixon and Nik Rios, a private school student and member of Streetlight’s most exclusive social club, the IV Boys. The couple is virtually inseparable until Nik leaves for college three years into their relationship. When Kady plays a mysterious carnival game and wins a bag of enchanted candies that allow her to rewind time without others’ knowledge, she uses them to relive Nik’s occasional visits to make them last. Then rumors surface about Kady kissing 17-year-old Aaron Johnson, Nik’s friend and the only other IV Boy who treats her as an equal. Kady tries using candies to limit the lie’s spread, yet the glares and gossip increase—as does her suspicion that she isn’t the only one manipulating time. Kady and Aaron co-narrate, with Aaron’s chapters unfolding in first-person past tense and Kady’s in first-person present. An intersectionally diverse cast of authentically flawed characters complement Thomas’s fiendishly clever premise and swiftly paced, slyly crafted plot. Ages 14–up. Agent: Ann Rose, Prospect Agency. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 08/16/2024 | Details & Permalink