Trans teens must save the LGBTQ+ youth center—and the world.
Orsino, a rural trans boy, is plagued by visions of aliens, time travel, and destruction. With James, a goth trans boy, he finds that he can share these visions—and even create new realities when they touch. James falls for Orsino but realizes he still has feelings for Ian, a gender-questioning queer Latine punk (Orsino and James are white; James is Jewish). Meanwhile, the boys and their friends attempt to organize a punk music fundraising show. The story combines a familiar tale of youth activism with epic, allegorical science fiction, but the two elements are like oil and water, mingling without fully merging into a satisfying whole. There is a darkness to both parts: The characters experience challenging lives rife with abuse and bullying, adults with terrible boundaries, and the everyday pain of adolescence; meanwhile, aliens offer horrific visions of destruction and existential threats. The end does provide a glimmer of hope, however. The writing can be stiff, but there are moments of evocative description and emotional poignancy. A slur for people with mental disabilities appears several times, used unnecessarily by an abusive dad and adding to the raw tone. Taken as a whole, the book is original and intriguing despite not wholly achieving its ambitious goals.
A mixed bag with some gems for adventurous readers to find.
(Fantasy. 14-18)