Review by Booklist Review
Iris sprouted from a seed, tended to by her moms. Babs is made of fire, cursed by a witch to become periodically invisible. When Iris sees Babs on the bus to school one day, they form a bond over similarities in their identities (Iris is nonbinary, Babs is trans; both are white) and connection to magic and magical creatures. When a new boy of Arab descent shows up at school, looking for his true name, he is befriended by Iris and Babs, and together they work to learn spellcasting, practicing magic in anticipation of tracking down the witch who cursed Babs. Along the way, the three discover unexpected truths about themselves, their friendships and families, and the magical world around them, including the the witch and her connection to Babs. From Australian author Evans (Ida, 2017) comes a delicately constructed urban fantasy featuring a cast of complex characters embodying diverse genders and sexualities. Perfect for fans of Francesca Lia Block and Aiden Thomas, this will also appeal to fantasy and magic-realism enthusiasts.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Sixteen-year-old Iris, lonely for friends, feels different from their classmates at their Australian high school: Grown from a seed in their mothers' garden, they're also nonbinary. Their life begins to change for the better when they meet Babs, the trans, lesbian daughter of a local witch, and a new student, also trans, who is referred to simply as the boy since his current name does not fit him. Iris is inclined to witchcraft and begins to learn spells while Babs deals with a diagnosis of depression and a curse that makes her periodically invisible. The boy, nameless for much of the novel, searches for both a name and a sense of self. All three support one another with pure and unconditional love as they tackle everyday problems alongside their dealings with magic. A quest to break Babs' curse tests their courage but never their devotion to each other. Evans paints a world that is rich with strange magic but is unconcerned with the hows and whys of dryads and vanishing bus stops. Above all, this is a story of queer teens developing vibrant confidence in their own selves and, refreshingly, joy instead of heartache. Although the characterization is slight, some elements are twee, and the plot meanders, the book's message remains necessary and important. Most characters default to White; the boy is Arab Australian. A gentle meditation on finding your people and coming into your own magic. (Fabulism. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
