A gripping, visceral, post-apocalyptic story brimming with adventure and heart.
A teenage girl embarks on a dangerous journey to find her mother in Parent’s debut YA novel.
The world after the Fall is bleak. Environmental destruction is widespread; powerful drugs called LoTabs are widely circulating; books have mostly vanished; and the militant Green Mountain Boys keep close watch for anything suspicious. June’s memories of a mysterious barn fire that left her horribly scarred six years ago are patchy (“Bales of hay rose up around me, their shadows moving like monsters when the flame guttered”), but she knows it was the last day she saw her mother. Ever since, she’s been staying at a ramshackle house in the Hollow with a couple who look after her in exchange for her labor. The one bright light in June’s life is Thomas, an orphan who’s become like a kid brother to her. One day, June sees Jacob, a weathered town deputy, sparking the return of hazy memories—she realizes he’s the one who pulled her from the blaze. When a circus rolls into the area, June and Thomas are determined to track the troupe down, hoping to get information about June’s mother (traveling circuses are one of the few sources of news in this world). But the trek is perilous: There’s a dead girl in the woods, someone’s killing sheep, and solar panels are being destroyed. The closer June gets to learning the truth, the more secrets she uncovers. In captivating, sharply observed prose, Parent strikes a skillful balance between hope and despair; when all seems lost, flickers of light illuminate the darkness. Though much has changed in the narrative’s foreboding future world, the characters’ struggles—the beating heart of the story—are deeply relatable. Oddball circus performers, unsavory lawbreakers, and flawed do-gooders round out the lively cast; the fiercely loyal June, and Jacob, whose bad habits fail to dull his sorrow, will stay with readers long after the final page. Aimed at a YA audience, the novel will also appeal to adults who enjoy character-driven fiction and adventure.
A gripping, visceral, post-apocalyptic story brimming with adventure and heart.Pub Date: Dec. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9781646034840
Page Count: 266
Publisher: Fitzroy Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 16, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship.
Shortly before the new queen’s coronation, a monster wreaks havoc, forcing a young fairy princess to intervene at her own risk.
In Pixie Hollow, the Never Fairies of Spring, Summer, and Autumn work to create seasons for the humans on the Mainland, while the fairies of Winter remain apart in the Winter Woods. Clarion, a governing-talent fairy who’s soon to take over as queen of Pixie Hollow, often looks wonderingly at the Winter Woods. But crossing the border is against the rules set forth by her mentor, Queen Elvina. When a monster from Winter breaks free and enters Spring, Clarion bristles at Elvina’s dismissal. Determined to be involved, she secretly travels to Winter, meets with Milori, the Warden of the Winter Woods, and learns that the land is nothing like what she’s heard, making her wonder what else the queen has been untruthful about. Together Milori and Clarion work to discover the secrets of Pixie Hollow, which may save them—or lead to death. Set in a magical place of flowers and pixie dust, this story considers the control we have over the roles we’re assigned. Clarion is a beautifully complex character—strong yet insecure, lovable due to her willingness to prioritize relationships over rules. Themes of fear, forbidden love, and good vs. evil are present in this fast-paced, engaging tale. Main characters are cued white.
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781368098458
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Disney Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
© Copyright 2025 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.
