The door in Lake Mallion

A frustrated young thespian discovers an alien civilization that runs on mushrooms and musical theater in this second series entry. Fifteen-year-old Dunstan Cord's bright dreams have only slightly been dimmed by juvenile macular degeneration and a disruptive streak that's kept him out of the limelight in his lakeshore town of Knockum. But he finds himself a singular sensation after treacherous heartthrob Moss Richler (an A-lister with "teeth for miles") throws him overboard into the deep waters of Lake Mallion. Instead of drowning, Dunstan, who presents white, winds up in the large subterranean Geodom of Jet--where the reptilian residents are lit, fed, and housed by fungi that are powered by mysterious green Meteorlight, which is keyed to charismatic public performers called Truffledours. In no time, Dunstan is onstage, his imagination, "a thing alive that always ran away with him attached…cracked open, pouring out over the audience." Unfortunately, while also making a flashy connection with Jet's scaly, taily, totally kissable Prince Ven, he discovers a threat to Knockum and potentially all of Brindlewatch. The language is rich in references to stagecraft, and Beiko kits out her stagestruck teen with an easily relatable desire to shine, an eminently breakable heart as big as his personality, and a notably diverse queer supporting cast. By the end, hearts are mending and the threat is diverted, if only in what feels like a temporary way. A hot ticket, chockablock with memorable performances.(Fantasy. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.