03/04/2024
Barakiva (Hold My Hand) combines queer sensibilities and Aztec, Middle Eastern, and South Asian influences in this sweeping and ambitious tale. After kissing his dream boy, music-loving high school junior Reed de Vries is on top of the world. When he meets a mysterious guidance counselor named Mr. Shaw, however, he doesn’t expect for his life to turn upside down. Mr. Shaw informs him that Reed is the first of a ragtag group of snarky teens—or the Bearers—that Mr. Shaw must unite to save the world from a portal that threatens to plunge society into madness. But Mr. Shaw has secrets of his own, and when horrific truths come to light, Reed discovers that the only people he can trust are his fellow Bearers as he struggles to hold the realm together. Copious pop culture references occasionally overshadow the story’s unique worldbuilding, original magic system, and quirky characters. Nevertheless, the narrative’s twists and turns are enormously fun to watch unfold, and fans of queer romance and intersectionally diverse ensembles will find a lot to love in Barakiva’s beguiling tale. Ages 14–up. (May)
