Synopsis

Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family.

It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing a secret about Sandy-that he thinks he might be gay. “You don’t want anyone to think you’re gay too, do you?”

But when Sandy goes missing, sparking a town-wide search, and King finds his former best friend hiding in a tent in his backyard, he agrees to help Sandy escape from his abusive father, and the two begin an adventure as they build their own private paradise down by the bayou and among the dragonflies. As King’s friendship with Sandy is reignited, he’s forced to confront questions about himself and the reality of his brother’s death.

Review

4.5/5 stars

TW – child abuse and talks of physical abuse and racism

another middle grade that was just so beautifully written and just ripped your heart out but in the end it picked up the pieces and put it back together again. this novel is about trying to live to fullest and coping with grief in the best possible way and trying to move forward even when it feels impossible to do and also about finding the strength and courage to figuring out yourself and only being able to do that by believing in yourself and having the support system to make you feel comfortable to do/be who you want to be.

the poetic and beautiful writing throughout by Kacen Callender was just stunning and as this is my first book by this author I’m really excited to dive into Kacen’s other novels including his upcoming release Felix, ever after!!!

🌟🌟🌟🌟 💫