Queer Kids Save the World!

Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials, by Jamar J. Perry (Bloomsbury USA). This second volume in a series inspired by West African and Igbo history and mythology picks up as Cameron, his friend Aliyah, and his crush Zion are starting middle school, where a bully threatens to make Cameron’s life miserable. Cameron, however, is more concerned about getting back to the fabled land of Chidani to rescue his parents who are trapped there. Once they do return to Chidani, they face a variety of obstacles and are caught up in the machinations of the gods as Cameron discovers the shape and limits of his power. There is plenty of action and energy here, and important representation with an all-Black cast and two queer boys, Cameron and Zion, whose relationship deepens. Themes of friendship, Black history, coming into one’s power, grieving and letting go, and the importance of family, whether born or chosen, make this more than simply another adventure. Fans of the first volume are likely to enjoy this one; those unfamiliar with it are advised to read it first, as it provides important backstory and motivations for many of the people and beings encountered here.

Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston, by Esme Symes-Smith (Labyrinth Road). In this book’s world, boys learn to fight, girls learn magic (which must be strictly controlled), and there’s no real place for someone like 12-year-old Callie, whom everyone thinks is a girl but who knows they’re neither. When their father is summoned back to kingdom’s capital to help a hapless young prince prepare for the throne, Callie goes with him, hoping to prove themselves worthy of becoming a knight. There, however, a ruthless chancellor has taken charge, and Callie soon runs afoul of him as he attempts to make them adhere to a girl’s role. They find support (and a possible crush) in his daughter, Elowen, as well as in the misunderstood prince. Callie is a tremendously likeable protagonist, and each of the many other queer characters (including Callie’s dad) shows that there is not one single story of queerness, but many. A sequel is due in November (and will be reviewed here in due course), but can already be preordered (Bookshop; Amazon).

Juniper Harvey and the Vanishing Kingdom, by Nina Varela (Little, Brown). Eleven-year-old Juniper “June” Harvey is trying to adjust to her new life in a small town in Florida. Disturbingly, she keeps having dreams about an ancient temple and a girl who turns into an ivory statue. One night, the girl turns up in her room, wielding a sword, and reveals herself to be Princess Galatea of the mysterious floating land of Kypros. Galatea has lost her crown, but needs it to get home and save her realm, which is slowly crumbling from mysterious forces. June tries to help her, even as she develops a crush on the dynamic, strong-willed princess. Then the evil creatures show up…. There are clear echoes of Greek mythology (and of Rick Riordan’s Greek-inspired series), but they are distant enough that this middle-grade debut feels original, with its own mythos and worldbuilding. There’s a clear setup for a sequel, which I’m thoroughly looking forward to.

Ring of Solomon, by Aden Polydoros (Inkyard). This exciting adventure stars a gay, Jewish tween who must team up with Ashmedai, a demon from Jewish folklore, to defeat evil monsters bent on triggering the Apocalypse. In Jewish tradition, demons (or “shedim” in Hebrew) are not the evil creatures from hell that they are in the Christian tradition. They are, as Zach’s mom explains, “more ambiguous.” Indeed, Ashmedai, though unpredictable and impulsive, is happy to help Zach deal with his everyday problems, like the school bully. Eventually, though, Zach and Ash draw the attention of the local chapter of the Knights of the Apocalypse, a secret society intent awakening three mythic monsters and unleashing the end of times. Zach, Ash, Naomi, and Zach’s best friend Sandra must work together to defeat them and save the world. The action takes a little while to get going—the apocalyptic threat isn’t revealed until about halfway through—but it comes on strong at the end and Zach is an amusing narrator throughout. Unfortunately, use of the term “lame” several times derogatively feels ableist. (See Disability in Kidlit.) Overall, though, fans of Rick Riordan’s mythology-based adventures will likely enjoy this Jewish-themed one, the first of a planned trilogy.

Izzy at the End of the World, by K.A. Reynolds (Clarion). Two queer, neurodivergent young teens attempt to save the world in this action-filled novel that also looks thoughtfully at grief, facing one’s fears, and fighting for those one loves. When mysterious lights appear in the sky one night and strange gray monsters invade Earth, everyone in the world seems to have vanished except for 14-year-old Izzy and her dog Akka. Izzy, who is autistic and has anxiety and depression, is determined to find out what happened and bring back her grandparents and younger sister. She is guided by mysterious clues left by her mother (who died of cancer before the story begins) and soon meets fellow survivor Raven, a gender creative boy who has anxiety, too, and is also bisexual like Izzy. Together, they begin a friendship (and possibly more) as they piece together the clues, draw on their own unique strengths, and try to bring back the world. There’s an unfortunate error in the “science” part of this otherwise enjoyable sci-fi story—infrared light is not seen as red by human eyes, nor ultraviolet as purple; in fact, human eyes cannot see either. This will be a repeated irritant to STEM-minded readers (and misleading to others), but does not take too much away from an otherwise delightful and empowering tale.

B.E.S.T. World: Under Pressure, by Cory McCarthy (Clarion). In the second book of an action-filled, near-future trilogy, Leo (they/them), Jayla (she/her), and Ace (he/him), who first met at the B.E.S.T. (Biological Enhancement Systems Technology) Academy, are lost at sea in search of their friend Grayson Bix. A mysterious ship appears and they’re afraid they’ll be taken back to B.E.S.T.’s Tower of Power to be punished for escaping. Instead, they find themselves in an underwater world away from the prying eyes of the Bixonics corporation, where a secret resistance is taking shape. This volume is told from the alternating perspectives of Leo and Jayla. Leo’s nonbinary and disabled identities are never the focus, but nor are they ignored, as they sometimes encounter micro- (and not-so-micro) aggressions on both counts. New adventures, challenges, and friends await as the friends discover a world-changing secret and grapple with the possibilities—and perils—of their long-sought biological enhancements. The third volume is due in November (and will be reviewed here in due course), but can already be preordered (Bookshop; Amazon).