Reviews provided by Syndetics
Publishers Weekly Review
Lines from and musings about the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice ground this breathtaking graphic novel romance about loss and moving forward. When musician Franny transfers into outdoorsy Sam's Pennsylvania mill town high school, the teens bond and soon fall blissfully in love, despite their personal struggles opening up to other people. While driving together one stormy night, Franny crashes into an elk; though she dies on impact, an injured Sam is rushed to the hospital. Overcome with grief, Sam becomes depressed, his only solace being his nightly dreams of Franny. Sam grows obsessed with these brief dreamscape meetings, believing that, through his lucid visions, he can reconnect with Franny on the astral plane between life and death. Debut author Lee expertly captures Sam's feelings of isolation and emotional intensity as he processes his grief via kinetic storytelling that's amplified by Pham (Lunar New Year Love Story), whose fluid illustrations set the somber tone with a moody, grayish-blue color palette that incorporates warm, uplifting buttery tones during key moments. The result is an immersive and hopeful story that will incite both heartache and radiant joy. Ages 14--up. Illustrator's agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (May)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Franny and Sam fell in love easily and have a strong and rare connection, but their hope of staying together is torn apart by forces beyond their control. When Franny and Sam discuss the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in class, readers will get a hint of the tragedy that lies in their future. Even though they are soon separated by death, Franny and Sam will do anything they can to stay together, including meeting on the astral plane between life and death. While this story takes inspiration from mythology, it also packs a few twists that surprise the characters and will also surprise readers. This is a slow, lovely, and thoughtful story about the power of love versus the finality of death, and readers will be moved by the emotional journey. Sam's drive to find a surviving grove of chestnut trees in their forest provides a poignant connection to life, death, and the rebirth of nature that will also pull on heartstrings. The book is visually stunning, most notably in the broad brushstrokes of the artwork and in the pink and periwinkle colors of twilight. VERDICT For readers who love mythology, tearjerkers, and impossible romances.--Andrea Lipinski
Booklist Review
"Grief is selfish, it's hungry. It makes you do crazy things." From the hands of Disney's Frozen writer and a Caldecott Honor Book illustrator comes a heartbreaking portrait of grief. From the moment they crash into each other, Sam, a lucid dreamer with an affinity for the forest, is instantly spellbound by the musically talented Franny. For them, falling in love is the easy part. For the first time, they have dreams of a future, but when fate intervenes, that future seems to be ripped away. Now Sam and Franny maintain their connection through the astral plane, carrying on in a liminal space and defying every force of nature to hang on to each other. Realistic pencil-and-ink artwork fluctuates between dulled tones of day-to-day life and ethereal scenes of pastel shades that express dreams and emotions. A suicide attempt is depicted on the page, as well as allusions to sex. In a nod to Greek mythology, this hypnotic take on Orpheus and Eurydice celebrates first loves, withstands the toll of grief, and embraces healing.
Horn Book Review
This heartfelt, haunting graphic novel reinterprets the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, weaving an unforgettable contemporary tale of teenage love and loss. Nature enthusiast Sam spends all his time in the woods, largely ignored by his widower father. Sam's loneliness disappears when he (literally) collides with a new classmate, Franny. Sparks fly, and the pair becomes romantically involved. Then a terrible car accident changes everything. As Sam finds himself mourning his sudden loss of Franny, he sees visions of her in dreams and becomes convinced that there is a supernatural way they could be reunited, a monstrous obsession that builds up to an astonishing revelation and a devastating decision. In her graphic novel debut, screenwriter Lee's sweet yet suspenseful storytelling captures the highs and lows of first and longterm love, complicated families, and everyday life in a rural mill town. Secondary characters, including an elderly neighbor and a friendly nurse, shine in pivotal moments. Pham's dynamic digital art, in a palette mostly emphasizing black, white, blue, and purple, enhances the drama with a mix of realistic and fantastical scenes ranging from amorous to horrific. A must-read for fans of paranormal romances, including Pham's previous graphic novel Lunar New Year Love Story (rev. 1/24, written by Gene Luen Yang) and Dustin Thao's novel You've Reached Sam. Michelle LeeMay/June 2026 p.85 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Book Review
In this graphic novel by Disney screenwriter Lee and award-winning illustrator Pham, two teens in love face the ultimate obstacle. Soon after their meet-cute collision, high school juniors Sam and Franny, who live in the mill town of Chestnut Woods, Pennsylvania, become inseparable. With one another, they can confide their worries and troubles as well as their dreams and hopes. Theirs is an all-consuming love--some may even call it too intense. When an unimaginable tragedy strikes, Sam and Franny can't help but try to hold on to their love forever. But can they defy death? Will they succeed where Orpheus and Eurydice failed? Through lucid dreaming, white-presenting Sam and Franny, who appears Asian, can be together--but the astral world is only meant to be a stopgap between life and death. The story coalesces into a sensitive and visceral exploration of loss and selfless love even as their dreams become horrific nightmares when their reluctance to let go comes to a head. Recurring elements like Greek mythology and Sam's search for chestnut trees that survived the blight echo the protagonists' arcs. The expressive artwork powerfully conveys the emotional intensity of these teenagers in love and crisis. Those who reread the story armed with foreknowledge of a major twist will enjoy an especially rich experience of Lee's narrative and appreciate Pham's clever choices in the illustrations. A striking and viscerally affecting tale of love, loss, and letting go. (content warning)(Graphic supernatural. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
TextPublisher: New York, NY : First Second, 2026Edition: First editionDescription: 340 pages : color illustrations ; 23 cmContent type: