Children’s & YA Reviews
112 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY FEBRUARY 2, 2026
Piper at the Gates of Dusk (The New World #1) Patrick Ness. Candlewick, $19.99 (352p) ISBN 978-1-5362-4830-2 ★ ❘ An unknown entity plagues young human space settlers in this gripping trilogy opener from Ness, set two decades after his Chaos Walking series. On the planet humans call New World, all native sentient life-forms, including a humanoid species called the Land, communicate via Noise: involuntary telepathic broadcasts of an entity’s every thought. Male humans born on New World also emit Noise until geneticists develop a cure, reinstating personal privacy but widening the communication gulf between people and the Land. When human children start having night- mares that involve self-critical Noise, some xenophobic people claim it’s a disease caused by the Land. Teen brothers Ben, who communicates nonverbally due to a neurological condition, and transgender adoptee Max don’t believe the Land is responsible, however, as their father still has Noise and is friendly with the species’ leader, and their mother, a scientist, suspects an approaching alien vessel is to blame. When flaming skinless giants begin taking human New World kids, the settlers lash out against the Land, impelling Max and Ben to seek answers. Witty, propulsive first-person narration alternates between the sibs’ perspectives as they navigate issues of morality, mortality, identity, and disinformation. Main characters are keenly rendered and cue as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Michelle Kass, Michelle Kass Assoc. (Apr.) COMICS Lake of Slime (The Super Roomies #1) Jarrett Lerner. Simon Spotlight, $18.99 hardcover (112p); $7.99 paper ISBN 978-1-6659-8296-2; ISBN 978-1-6659-8295-5 ★ ❘ A quartet of superpowered roommates must put aside their differences to save the world in this goofy chapter book–level graphic novel, a series launch from Lerner ( Nat the Cat Finds a Map ). Who left an empty carton of milk in the fridge?
That’s what frustrated superhero Blix Blaster, foiled in his pursuit of a cereal breakfast, demands of his super roomies Abby Astro, Captain Kooky Pants, and Wanda Weather. Blix Blaster’s interrogation is interrupted by a call from Big City Mayor Melissa McCorkle, who requests the heroes’ help in stopping supervillain Dr. Slimepeople from replacing Big City Lake’s water with goo. The group dispatches enemies using their unique powers—Abby Astro wields an energy lasso, Blix Blaster shoots explosions from his hands, Captain Kooky Pants’s glowing slacks blow baddies away, and Wanda Weather creates tornadoes—but Blix Blaster, his mind still on breakfast, derails the heroics to ask Dr. Slimepeople a question. Action-centered onomatopoeia (“DRAG!” “WAVE!” “REACH!”) and fourth wall breaks (“Before we get to chapter 5, I have a question...”) ensure readers’ investment. Blocky, geometrical b&w illustrations with yellow accents give the comic an energetic retro appeal reminiscent of Roy Lichtenstein and depict simple shape-based characters with various skin tones. Ages 5–9. (May) Feo the Chupacabra Sequoia Blankenship, illus. by Rob Thompson. Abrams Fanfare, $24.99 hardcover (288p); $16.99 paper
and monster movie enthusiast Camila—embarks on a road trip to Hollywood. There, the pair will persuade the studio to make Feo the star of their next film, which will hope- fully earn Cabrito Viejo “culturally significant protection status” and nullify the sale. Rich purple hues blend into sunny golden yellows and glowing oranges, evoking the jovial warmth of Festival del Chupacabra and the cine- matic magic of Camila’s beloved films, while authentic cultural iconography and storytelling result in an underdog tale about friendship and the pitfalls of fame. Ages 8–12. (Apr.) NONFICTION The Tenth Man: A Miracle of Jewish Faith and Friendship in New Orleans Artie Bennett, illus. by Shira Neiss. Holiday House, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-8234-5843-1 In a picture book crafted like the best drawn journalism, Bennett ( The True Story of Zippy Chippy ) and Neiss, mak- ing her picture book debut, tell the true story of what happened when a down- trodden young man wandered into a worn New Orleans synagogue. Drawn by the singing he heard inside, Alex Brown found nine elderly Orthodox Jews, most of them Holocaust survivors, who needed Brown’s presence as a 10th Jewish man to complete their minyan. The encounter awakens something deep within Brown, who becomes an essential member of the community, lifting a Torah too heavy for aging hands, handling administrative tasks, and even—in one of the book’s fine comic moments—ferrying nursing home residents to the synagogue. “And in return,” Brown is quoted reflecting, “they gave me life.” Fluid digital and watercolor renderings pulse with immediacy and genuine affection, revealing the men through Brown’s eyes—their resilience and vitality, their crankiness and frugality, and their devotion to both their faith and to their 10th man—in this work about life’s unexpected gifts. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Extensive back matter includes needed context. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)
ISBN 978-1-4197-6369-4; ISBN 978-1-4197-6370-0
When a movie studio threatens to oust the townspeople of Cabrito Viejo, Mexico, from their homes, an unlikely duo steps up to save the day in this heartfelt graphic novel, a dual debut set in 1950. Every year, Cabrito Viejo citizens celebrate Festival del Chupacabra in honor of the legendary goat-sucking monster. Unbeknownst to the revelers, chupacabra Feo—a green-furred, doglike animal with huge fangs and even bigger eyes— lives among them, snatching their livestock and preening at their worship. But the purchase of Cabrito Viejo by a Hollywood creature feature producer spells disaster for the denizens, the festival, and Feo. To preserve the town, Feo—accompanied by teen mechanic
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