ALA Booklist (Thu Oct 31 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Caleb and his family are still reeling from the death of his brother, Jack, who died of a heroin overdose last summer. Since this incident, a faceless black cat (a possible coping mechanism) has started following Caleb around and interrupting his life. Meanwhile, Caleb begins to drink more, which worries his best friend, Tanya. He falls behind in classes at his arts school until he partners up with Emmett, who helps him with a group project. Eventually, Emmett and Caleb become romantically involved, and Emmett and Tanya, in addition to Caleb's parents, help each other through difficulties, including the death of Jack. Caleb, Emmett, and Tanya are all transgender, and this book offers positive representation that will resonate with many young adult readers, especially fans of Meredith Russo and Kacen Callender. Though well handled, the discussion of sensitive topics, including rape, drug use, and scenes of sexual assault, may make this novel a difficult read for some.

Kirkus Reviews

A trans teen mourns his brother's deathSixteen-year-old Caleb is being haunted by a cat. Ever since the heroin overdose death of his older brother, Jack, the white high school junior has been followed by a mysterious black cat, whom he names Ghost. No one else can see the cat, which has a blurry, shadowy face, but it subtly seems to guide Caleb toward making connections with different people who can help him deal with the aftermath of loss. His grief over his brother is ameliorated somewhat by his best friend, Tanya, a trans girl who immigrated from India with her supportive parents, and his love interest, Emmett, a white, trans, nonbinary, and genderfluid musician. The book has moments of rich emotion, mostly in the description of Jack's relapses and the trauma that spurred his addiction, but the storytelling is flat overall: Caleb describes how he feels without making readers feel alongside him. All the characters are carefully drawn to the point where they feel less than robust and real, particularly Emmett, who comes across more like an idealized adult than a smitten adolescent. The quiet plot unfolds slowly, with the most minor of revelations pulling it along.More cautious than powerful.(Fiction. 14-18)

School Library Journal (Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Gr 9 Up— A moving novel about grief and the possibility of hope after loss. Caleb's brother Jack died of a drug overdose the summer before his junior year of high school, and Caleb is struggling to cope with life without him. Caleb hasn't spent time with his best friend Tanya in months and is close to failing his songwriting class. As if that wasn't enough, Caleb is being haunted by a black cat only he can see. With the cat's interference, Caleb is paired with Emmett, the lead singer of a local punk band, for a final class project and their new friendship might be the help Caleb needs to open up about Jack's death. Caleb and his family experience a devastating loss, and Caleb deals with his grief in healthy and unhealthy ways. Bulla brings up many tough topics like addiction, suicide, and self-harm in this novel. Caleb's anger and despair feel very dark at times, but Bulla adds a welcome gentleness in Caleb's interactions with other transgender and queer peers. Caleb and Tanya are transgender, and Emmett is trans and identifies as genderfluid. Bulla creates an open and inclusive narrative for the characters to share their experiences as LGBTQIA+ teens. VERDICT This story is touching, heartbreaking, and poignant. A must for readers who enjoy complex emotional journeys.— Maria Martin