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INTERMEDIATE FICTION
Mass, Wendy

Lo & Behold

224 pp. | Random | May, 2023 | Trade ISBN 9780593179635 $20.99 | Paper ISBN 9780593179628 $13.99 | Ebook ISBN 9780593179659 $8.99
(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Gabi Mendez. Color by Cai Tse. In this moving and memorable graphic novel, twelve-year-old Addie loves tortoises, outer space, and moon trees (planted from seeds that traveled with the Apollo 14 mission before germinating back on Earth). A prologue reveals that when Addie was ten, her mom was injured in a bicycle accident and had surgery; things got worse from there. The main narrative begins almost two years later, after a traumatic (and ambiguously shown) incident, with Addie and her futurist dad adjusting to a "new normal." The pair is now living on a college campus for the summer, her dad working with a fun-loving group of young researchers studying augmented and virtual reality. Thrust into a new environment, Addie makes friends (including Mateo, a kind, free-spirited neighbor kid) and has experiences that push her as she challenges assumptions, processes feelings, and grows in empathy, vulnerability, and confidence. Character, setting, dialogue, and plot are skillfully delineated, and the inclusion of sunny moments balance heavier, introspective scenes. Well-paced, deftly illustrated panels convey characters' emotions and experiences; especially striking are fanciful VR-related images superimposed over realistic settings. When Addie's family situation (involving addiction and incarceration) is fully disclosed, it is presented with care, compassion, and hope. Back matter includes notes from the creators and a link to additional resources, including augmented reality that can be integrated into the reading of the book.
Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

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