Keepers of the Stones and Stars

March 4, 2024
Barakiva (Hold My Hand) combines queer sensibilities and Aztec, Middle Eastern, and South Asian influences in this sweeping and ambitious tale. After kissing his dream boy, music-loving high school junior Reed de Vries is on top of the world. When he meets a mysterious guidance counselor named Mr. Shaw, however, he doesn’t expect for his life to turn upside down. Mr. Shaw informs him that Reed is the first of a ragtag group of snarky teens—or the Bearers—that Mr. Shaw must unite to save the world from a portal that threatens to plunge society into madness. But Mr. Shaw has secrets of his own, and when horrific truths come to light, Reed discovers that the only people he can trust are his fellow Bearers as he struggles to hold the realm together. Copious pop culture references occasionally overshadow the story’s unique worldbuilding, original magic system, and quirky characters. Nevertheless, the narrative’s twists and turns are enormously fun to watch unfold, and fans of queer romance and intersectionally diverse ensembles will find a lot to love in Barakiva’s beguiling tale. Ages 14–up.

April 1, 2024
Precious gems, resourceful teenagers, and a deadline to save the world: What could possibly go wrong? Reed de Vries is finishing up his junior year of high school, and things are going well. He's the president of his school's Gay Straight Alliance and is thinking about running for student council. As for his best friend, Arno Sarkisian--well, the two boys may be becoming more than friends. All Reed's plans are thrown into disarray, however, when he discovers a ruby on the beach of his Jersey Shore hometown. Suddenly, his school's mysterious, handsome, and very British college counselor presents him with a life-or-death mission, and he's on a quest to unite the Five Stone Bearers, who will need to work together to save the world. The journey includes ample twists and turns, and Barakiva adds interest by alternating perspectives among various characters and switching between the first and third person. The story is further deepened by glimpses of a previous, parallel quest that unfolds in Mughal-era India. The voices of the point-of-view characters are easily distinguishable and emphasize their individual experiences. Reed's identity as a gay white musician clearly shapes his worldview and language, as does Arno's as a gay Armenian Christian. Although the sheer density of ideas at play works against graceful execution, the book is relevant, vibrant, and inviting. An imaginative, funny, and of-the-moment race to save the world. (author's note) (Fantasy. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.