★ Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf
Deke Moulton. Tundra, $17.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-7748-8052-4
White-cued Benji Zeb—on the cusp of making his bar mitzvah—is struggling to keep many secrets as well as live up to the expectations of his kibbutz family. His first secret—he and his Modern Orthodox Jewish brood are werewolves who also operate a wolf sanctuary—is the least of his worries. It’s the fact that Benji has a crush on former friend Caleb Gao, who is of Chinese descent, that makes Benji nervous. Caleb was one of few people Benji was confident being himself around, but when the new school year starts, Caleb inexplicably begins ignoring Benji. Moreover, tensions have increased throughout Benji’s rural Washington town, which is facing financial challenges. Hoping to incite further upheaval, Caleb’s white farmer stepfather engages in racist, antisemitic, and homophobic rhetoric that threatens the Zebs’ livelihood. Moulton (Don’t Want to Be Your Monster) explores relevant issues surrounding anxiety, faith, prejudice, sexuality, and prioritizing others’ safety over personal comfort in this allegorical creature feature. It’s a heartening tale, ferried by Benji’s sincere first-person
POV and enlivened by his endearing interactions with Caleb. Abundant back matter includes a Hebrew and Chinese glossary, author’s note, and anxiety resources. Ages 10–14. Agent: Rena Rossner, Deborah Harris Agency. (July) joining another troop, the Owlet Scouts, and resolving to plant survival packs for Reese along the trail on her next outing. Blog posts, newspaper articles, and scouting guides appear between chapters, cutting the tension and contextualizing the creepy happenings around the reservation. While descriptions of the creature are menacing, the anti-Black attitudes perpetuated by white authority figures are perhaps more so in this adroitly crafted horror novel whose heroine perseveres in the face of malice both supernatural and man-made. Jenna and Reese are Black. Ages 10–up. Agent: Paige Terlip, Andrea Brown Literary. (July)
Ragnarök in Finch’s spirited, Norse mythology–inspired debut. Most assume Bryn Martel, her older sisters Prima and Reagan, and their mother are ordinary people who live and work at Ravenswood Medieval Faire, a Chicago-area tourist attraction. In truth, Bryn’s mother is a Valkyrie, charged with ferrying souls to Valhalla and doing Odin’s bidding on Earth, and her daughters are training to join her—Bryn less adeptly than her siblings. Prima and Reagan dismiss Bryn’s concerns when Mom is late returning from a mission, so Bryn doesn’t tell them when she starts having apocalyptic visions; it’s not like they’d believe her. Then a half-giant called Juniper appears and drops two bombshells: she’s their half sister, and the doomsday war known as Ragnarök is nigh. Prima and Reagan distrust Juniper, prompting her and Bryn to partner with a “very attractive” shape-shifter named Wyatt to find Bryn’s mom and forestall the end of all things. The boldly drawn, white-cued cast is feisty and funny. Coupled with Bryn’s snarky first-person-present narrative, Finch unveils a rollicking, twist-filled plot, which puts a modern spin on ancient folklore while sensitively exploring issues of identity and fate. Ages 12–up. Agent: Richard Abate, 3Arts Entertainment. (July)