Mags Herrera is bound to her hometown by a dark secret and a tragic accident, but she begins to dream of the possibilities of a new life after reuniting with a long-lost friend.Mags, who has short, spiky black hair, obeys the expectations of her Latine Catholic mother and grandmother. But beneath the floorboards of their home lies a dangerous monster that Mags must make blood sacrifices to in order to keep it fed and dormant. Mags struggles to conceal this secret from Nessa, a trans artist and childhood friend she reconnects with. The two fall in love and help each other out of dire situations. The beast at the center of the story serves as a potent allegory for the struggles of the story's many queer characters, especially Mags, who shoulders enormous expectations as well as experiencing rejection, loneliness, and guilt. Her story will resonate with teen audiences, especially those grappling with acceptance of their gender or sexual identity. Ostertag's illustration style and color palette shift during important moments to convey her characters' complex inner lives, such as emotional turmoil or strong feelings. Even while delving into difficult subjects, the story's heart is clearly an optimistic message of acceptance and love that insists that the parts of ourselves we don't like (or that society doesn't accept) are inextricable from who we are and should be cared for at all costs.Well-drawn, deeply realized characters enliven this spellbinding and fantastical queer coming-of-age love story. (author's note) (Graphic fiction. 13-18)

Mags Herrera is bound to her hometown by a dark secret and a tragic accident, but she begins to dream of the possibilities of a new life after reuniting with a long-lost friend.Mags, who has short, spiky black hair, obeys the expectations of her Latine Catholic mother and grandmother. But beneath the floorboards of their home lies a dangerous monster that Mags must make blood sacrifices to in order to keep it fed and dormant. Mags struggles to conceal this secret from Nessa, a trans artist and childhood friend she reconnects with. The two fall in love and help each other out of dire situations. The beast at the center of the story serves as a potent allegory for the struggles of the story's many queer characters, especially Mags, who shoulders enormous expectations as well as experiencing rejection, loneliness, and guilt. Her story will resonate with teen audiences, especially those grappling with acceptance of their gender or sexual identity. Ostertag's illustration style and color palette shift during important moments to convey her characters' complex inner lives, such as emotional turmoil or strong feelings. Even while delving into difficult subjects, the story's heart is clearly an optimistic message of acceptance and love that insists that the parts of ourselves we don't like (or that society doesn't accept) are inextricable from who we are and should be cared for at all costs.Well-drawn, deeply realized characters enliven this spellbinding and fantastical queer coming-of-age love story. (author's note) (Graphic fiction. 13-18)

Gr 8 Up— High school senior Mags Herrera has a lot on her shoulders: when she isn't working her part-time job or taking care of her elderly grandmother, she's making sure the family secret in her basement stays hidden—and fed. When Mags's childhood friend Nessa returns after a long absence, the two easily rekindle their friendship and explore deeper feelings for each other, but Mags, consumed with grief over a boy's death connected to the secret in her basement, is reluctant to let go and feel anything other than guilt. An introspective and stirring coming out story, illustrated largely in grayscale with flashbacks rendered in color. Ostertag's gift for dialogue shines, as does her storytelling with excellent pacing, setting, and characters that are perfect foils: Mags is introverted, tormented, dark; Tessa is open, vulnerable, and light. VERDICT A great LGBTQIA+ romance that readers will yearn to return to.— Rosemary Kiladitis