Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Comics creator Kahn (Heavenly Blues, for adults) crafts a fast-paced, emotional read about tween protagonist Elle Campbell, a Phantom Thief TV show superfan. Feeling seen and emboldened by Nuri Grena, the openly nonbinary star of the Phantom Thief, Elle reveals to their friends and family that they're nonbinary as well. Elle has a lot of questions about "how to be stronger as a nonbinary person"--questions they're convinced only Nuri can answer. Their plan to meet Nuri at a local weekend event is foiled when a transphobic substitute teacher gives Elle Saturday detention. Best friends Agatha and Taylor aren't going to let Elle's chance slip away, but busting them out of school in a series of harebrained schemes is only the first step toward meeting Nuri. Kahn details Elle's thoughts and desires through their fast-talking, anxious inner voice and their repeated attempts at belonging to construct an important tale about living outside the gender binary in adolescence. Sensitively rendered, introspective scenes amid the tweens' adrenaline-fueled adventure showcase Elle's changing relationships with family, friends, and themself, and highlight how fandom impacts their identity in this unique treatise on how the things one loves often allow for internal reflection. Elle reads as white; supporting characters are intersectionally diverse. Ages 8--12. Agent: Moe Ferrara, BookEnds Literary. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--7--Elle Campbell's hero is Nuri Grena, the actor playing the current lead on their favorite show, Phantom Thief. With Nuri as a role model, seventh grader Elle recently had the courage to come out as nonbinary, and they have the support of their mom and two close friends, Agatha and Taylor. After a long day and a run-in with a closed-minded, angry substitute, they end up in Saturday detention at the very same time their hero will be in town for publicity signings. Showing some creativity and true friendship, Taylor and Agatha concoct a movie-worthy plan to get Elle out of detention and off to Nuri's signings. After a slow start, the pace and fun pick up, from the first stop on the three's tour of the town chasing Nuri. The scenes of them playing laser tag (where a potential crush for Elle waits nearby) are particularly good: Kahn's graphic novel roots show in this, their middle grade prose debut. Parts of Elle's school life are somewhat stereotypical, but not Elle. Billed as a homage to Ferris Bueller, the book is sprinkled with references to John Hughes--some clever, others a little clunky. And like Hughes's films, most main characters, with a couple exceptions, cue as white. A few of the circumstances in their capers rely on a suspension of disbelief, but mostly, young readers will enjoy the ride. VERDICT Elle's story illuminates the inner life of a nonbinary middle schooler, and it's a fun, friend-filled adventure. Recommended purchase for upper elementary and early middle school collections.--Kate Fleming
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A nonbinary tween goes on a quest to meet their hero. Seventh grader Elle is a huge fan of Phantom Thief, a fictional Doctor Who--esque show, but above all, they love its nonbinary protagonist, who is portrayed by nonbinary actor Nuri Grena. When Elle finds out their hero will be signing autographs in their town, they are ecstatic--until they're slammed with an unfair detention by the meanest teacher in school. Now they'll have to sneak out and race across town on commandeered scooters with their two best friends before they get caught. Elle's world feels enjoyably like a cartoon or sitcom, a place where kids can sneak out of school inside the gym's laundry hamper and run amok in an art museum, and famous actors sign autographs in baseball-themed small-town restaurants. The story is also focused on its kid protagonists--no watchful parents stand in the background, and no boring lessons are learned about the importance of detention. Despite the lighthearted atmosphere, Elle is a fully realized character who learns more about themself through and during their adventure. Other characters are more one-dimensional, primarily there to support Elle's journey. The prose can be clunky at times, but Elle and their friends' hijinks will keep readers entertained. Elle reads white, and there is some racial diversity in the supporting cast. A fun, silly adventure with a heart. (Fiction. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
