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.
Fourteen-year-old Izzy and her younger sister have lived with their grandparents ever since their mom died of cancer. Izzy, who is autistic and has anxiety and depression, tries to occupy herself by playing video games with her sister and caring for her dog Akka, but misses her mom.
One night, however, mysterious lights appear in the sky and her grandparents and sister disappear—in fact, it seems that everyone else in the world has vanished, except for Izzy, Akka, and the strange gray monsters who have invaded Earth. Izzy is determined, however, to find out what is happening and try to bring the others back.
She is guided by mysterious clues left by her mother: an old journal and a CD of her mom’s favorite songs, whose lyrics seem strangely connected to things and events she encounters. Along the way, she meets fellow survivor Raven, who has anxiety, too, and is bisexual like Izzy. He’s also gender creative, and mentions that he has been bullied for wearing a skirt at school. Together, Izzy and Raven 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.
My main criticism is an egregious error in the “science” part of this otherwise enjoyable sci-fi tale. At one point, Izzy and Raven find a box of flashlights that emit “an eerie red glow.” Raven comments, “These are infrared lights. Like amateur astronomers use while stargazing.” As an astronomy major in college, I can say with authority that that’s wrong. What all astronomers (amateur and professional) use while stargazing are flashlights that emit red visible light (because it doesn’t destroy night vision)—but this is different from infrared light, which is beyond the visible spectrum and undetectable by human eyes. This error comes up several times (“the infrared light … circled us in eerie red shine”) and the infrared light is important in figuring some things out, so the error will be a repeated irritant to STEM-minded readers (and misleading to others). There’s a similar error at the other end of the electromagnetic spectrum when something else is “purple, like the … ultraviolet light”—but again, ultraviolet light is beyond the visible spectrum. It is not purple. I think the story would not be greatly affected, however, if the light was changed to simple red and purple (visible) light beams in a future edition.
The ending also wraps up perhaps a bit too quickly and neatly, but that aside, this is a delightful and empowering tale, with sympathetic and engaging protagonists (and a dog who is a Very Good Boy). It’s great to see both more bisexual and more neurodivergent representation—and even celebration—in the unique setting of this action-adventure, sci-fi middle-grade read, by a neurodivergent author.
Although Izzy is 14, this is labeled as (and feels like) a book for older middle-grade readers, not YA, except for a couple of references to Stephen King books that middle-grade readers probably won’t have read yet. (There are also likely YA-aged readers who would still enjoy it.) Izzy reads as White; Raven has tan skin and black hair.
Content warnings: One person is discovered to have died by suicide. Additionally, Raven has not only experienced bullying, but was threatened with a taser by his abusive father. All of these things happened in the past and are not described in detail.
