Reverie

October 15, 2019
A teenager fights to keep a series of baroque fantasy worlds from tearing his reality apart. Something terrible happened to Kane Montgomery at the old mill in his Connecticut hometown--or he did something terrible there; but with his memory of the night gone, even he couldn't tell you what. Now Kane has to prove that he's stable enough to go back to school, a task made infinitely more difficult by visions of spiderlike monsters and mysterious encounters with a glamorous, overtly queer person named Dr. Poesy. When Kane and his friends--bullied Ursula Abernathy, queen bee Adeline Bishop, golden boy Elliot Levi, and gorgeous, moody Dean Flores--are pulled into a series of immersive fantasy worlds generated by the minds of their town's residents, Kane must figure out whom to trust and whom to save before fantasy destroys reality completely. The narrative and aesthetics are joyously, riotously queer, reveling in moments of sensuality between Kane and other boys as well as in Dr. Poesy's drag-queen ensembles and the over-the-top fantasy worlds. Adeline and Dean are brown-skinned, Elliot is Jewish, and LGBTQ secondary and background characters suffuse the story. While the plot is predictable, the story's many pop-culture influences feel derivative, and the prose often rings hollow and thesaurus-happy, the themes of creating one's own reality and fighting against the rules imposed by the world you're born into will ring powerfully true for many young readers. A colorful, queer fantasy pastiche. (Contemporary fantasy. 14-18)

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November 4, 2019
Gay high school junior Kane Montgomery does not remember stealing his father’s car and crashing it into an abandoned mill in East Amity, Conn. But after paramedics pull him from a river—and with a missing person to account for and facing possible arson charges—Kane accepts the help of the frightening, charismatic psychologist Dr. Poesy in uncovering what happened. As the events leading up to the car crash begin to surface, Kane encounters reveries, dreamlike fantasy worlds conjured by East Amity’s citizens, and meets the Others, classmates with the ability to enter and manipulate the reveries. Slowly, Kane discovers his own powers within the reveries, but when the dreams prove unmanageable, threatening the balance between reality and fantasy, Kane must make difficult decisions that affect friends, family, and a new boyfriend. With a nod to Roald Dahl’s The Witches, debut author La Sala weaves compelling tension into the elaborate reveries’ richly drawn, if occasionally overwrought, worlds. Still, La Sala’s portrayal of Kane’s friendship with the Others is heartfelt, and the story’s many LGBTQ characters are prominently represented and powerfully nuanced. Ages 14–up. Agent: Veronica Park, Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Starred review from November 1, 2019

Gr 9 Up-La Sala's debut novel captures the magical, enthralling, and sometimes unsettling feelings that can come when our dreamworlds consume us. The story opens after a strange "accident" that leaves Kane Montgomery nearly dead and with no memories of the previous weeks. Kane quickly discovers, however, that nothing that has happened to him was an accident at all, and that reality is much more complicated than most people could fathom. As people's fantasies begin to bend reality in ways that threaten to destroy Kane's loved ones, it is up to him and the Others-a group of friends with extraordinary powers-to unravel these warped realities and save the world as they know it. This outstanding debut novel will light readers' imaginations on fire. La Sala's ability to create not just one fantasy world, but many smaller ones within it, is impressive. In these worlds, or reveries, La Sala cleverly weaves together characters' deepest desires and fears with eccentric and sometimes absurd elements that perfectly capture the way it feels to dream. These worlds would be nothing, of course, without a strong cast of dynamic characters to navigate them. From teen heroes to the evil sorceress, each character in the novel exudes both vulnerability and immense power. VERDICT Imaginative, bold, and full of queer representation, this is a must-purchase for YA collections.-Lauren Hathaway, University of British Columbia

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2019
Grades 8-11 Kane doesn't remember stealing his dad's car, crashing it into the old mill, or being pulled out before the fire could envelop him. Dr. Poesy, in charge of Kane's clinical evaluation, warns that there's more to the incident and that Kane may be pursued over things he doesn't remember. As Kane learns more about his past?including his friendship with three other classmates and their group, the Others?he discovers reveries, imagined worlds brought to life that pull in everyone nearby, as well as his ability to stop them. As the reveries become more common and less stable, Kane must determine whom he can trust?his so-called friends or Dr. Poesy? Fantasy fans will appreciate the complex and immersive world building behind reveries. The cast of mysterious characters adds to the story's shadowy atmosphere, while Kane's interactions with his friends and sister add a humorous and caring layer. A unique, clever fantasy with a strong protagonist that will leave readers hoping for a sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)