Greater Secrets

November 1, 2024
Grades 7-12 Maya's world has dimmed since her older sister Amara, whose musical dreams were just beginning to come true, left without a trace. For generations, Maya's Indian family has been cursed to see a distant pillar of light with mysterious effects, and Maya has a feeling that Amara's absence is related to this phenomenon. When Cardea, a dedicated fan of Amara, and Dyno, Cardea's childhood friend, recognize that Maya is Amara's sister, they convince her to join them on a road trip to search for her sister, despite Maya's knowledge that this journey may have a very high price for her. Vivid colors and bold backgrounds lend weight to the art, which does much in conjunction with the trio's sparse but compelling tale. Flashbacks that seem like video recordings are informative. Immersive, artistic spreads flow through energetic color transitions, and the sisters' guitar skills make for electric imagery, though the characters themselves could be more fleshed out. Overall, a vibrant take on the ability of companionship to lighten our burdens and the bravery of following ambitious dreams despite uncertainty.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2024
A young woman joins two strangers on a road trip to find her missing sister. Two years ago, Maya's then-25-year-old sister, Amara, had a music career that was on the rise. But Amara left to seek the pillar of light that members of her family are cursed to see. Now, Maya works as a barista and feels stuck, abandoned, and conflicted. When high school senior Cardea, an Amara superfan, shows up at Maya's coffee shop claiming to know where her sister is, Maya is angry at first. But she decides to join Cardea and Dyno, Cardea's childhood friend, on their road trip to find Amara. They all have their own reasons for embarking on the journey, and none are fully prepared for what they'll find. Unfortunately, the characters, their motivations, and the plot all feel superficial, so there's little to ground readers in the story. The art is bold and vibrant, playing with depth to establish a beautiful contrast for the dreamy art of the otherworld the trio discovers, but often at the expense of nuance in facial expressions and background details. This graphic novel may appeal to those who enjoy impressionistic or open-ended stories; others may simply feel frustrated and unmoored. Maya's Hindi-speaking family is cued Indian American; Cardea and Dyno present Black. Light characterization and worldbuilding make for a work that's hard to settle into. (character sketches, author's note)(Graphic fantasy. 12-18)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2024

Gr 9 Up-After the disappearance of her older sister Amara, Maya's family tries to carry on as usual, buoyed by the hope that she will return to them when she's ready. Maya's family has always been able to see a distant beam of light that is considered to be a curse by some and a gift to others. After the stress of her sister's absence piles up on her reluctance to face an upcoming discussion about college, Maya uses a chance meeting with two strangers to embark on a life-changing road trip. These strangers, Cardea and Dyno, are equally troubled by the future, climate, and family anxiety, and as the three set out to find Amara by following the pillar of light, their concerns bond them and prepare them to face their futures. The compassionate portrayal of the multitude of stressors teens cope with, combined with vivid and impactful illustrations, add up to a compelling and timely graphic novel. Whether the pillar of light is a gift or a curse is open to interpretation, but perhaps the true meaning of the beam lies in the decision to pursue it. VERDICT With electrifying illustration, this poignant depiction of a sensitive time will appeal to teens.-Sarah Maciejewski

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 9, 2024
Disgruntled 17-year-old barista Maya’s family is cursed. According to her father, the affliction appears as a light that inspires those who can see it to follow it, often to their detriment. She and her older sister Amara were encouraged to “ignore it and live a normal life.” But when Amara, an emerging musician, disappears, Maya is certain that it’s because she went in search of the light. Amara’s music continues to amass a following, even as Maya and her family struggle to return to normalcy while being bombarded with images and memories of their missing member, depicted in striking illustrations that render past happenings through concert posters, video recordings, and visualized audio streams. Maya is soon confronted by an overzealous fan named Cardea, a college-bound teen claiming to know where Amara has gone, who invites Maya to join her and her friend Dyno on a road trip to find her. Themes surrounding climate change feel surface-level; nevertheless, previous collaborators Hirsh and Stone (Buzz!) excel in their portrayal of friendship and growing through adversity in this hopeful graphic novel. Ages 12–up.