A bingeworthy adventure that will leave readers eager for the sequel.
In this series opener, a 16-year-old from Oregon discovers an enchanting—and perilous—world.
When Alexandra Jennings’ parents need to head to an archaeological dig in Siberia, they send her off to a boarding school in Mount Hood National Forest. She’s already distressed about this change, and the school doesn’t make a great first impression—all the students look bored and unhappy. But soon after her arrival, Alex steps through the door to the headmaster’s office and into another world, where she meets a man named Aven, who informs Alex that she’s his “salvation” and that they’ll rule Medora together. Next, she encounters two boys, Jordan and Bear, who attend Akarnae Academy, a place for those with magical abilities. Alex learns that Medora is “kind of like a parallel Earth, but different.” Awaiting the return of the only person who can help her get home, Akarnae’s headmaster, who’s away traveling, Alex enrolls at the school. The delightful friendships she forms with Bear and Jordan enhance her action-packed adventures. The mysterious Aven appears occasionally, adding to the intrigue around Alex’s purpose in Medora. The engaging characters and immersive worldbuilding, which evokes classic magical boarding school stories, make for an addictive read. While Medora’s advanced technology and the origins of the students’ gifts aren’t sufficiently explained, these elements don’t detract from the overall fun. Aven has bronze skin, and the other leads present white.
A bingeworthy adventure that will leave readers eager for the sequel. (map) (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2026
ISBN: 9781662621291
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Astra Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
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
Both entertaining and well-written; demands and holds readers’ attention.
A duology opener that revisits the world of Divergent (2011).
Beatrice “Tris” Prior is Divergent. But before she can select Dauntless, her Choosing Ceremony is interrupted by a group of factionless rebels, and her good friend is killed. Amid the chaos, Tris sees Evelyn, the wife of Abnegation leader Marcus Eaton—but Evelyn supposedly died years ago. And, shockingly, she’s an Amity woman who’s holding a gun. Tris doesn’t tell anyone, even her father, when he later questions her. Her brother, Caleb, chooses Erudite—the faction that’s most critical toward the Abnegation and their practices—and Tris feels pressured to stay in Abnegation. But when her father tries to erase her memories, she knows she’s unsafe. Tris’ mother helps her escape to the factionless, where Tris meets Four, a Dauntless boy. Their relationship shows her that she was right to leave Abnegation—and that maybe the rebels are correct to want the death of the faction system. As Tris becomes friends with the other “faction failures,” she realizes that no faction is as it seems, and that power is a corrupting influence they can’t escape. This exciting work revisits beloved characters, offering a new understanding of them and of what happens when we stand up and ask questions. Returning fans and those new to this world will appreciate the witty banter, slow-burn romance, and heartache stemming from betrayal and complicated familial love. The leads are cued white.
Both entertaining and well-written; demands and holds readers’ attention. (Dystopian. 13-18)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9780063462595
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
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