Children of Owl by Darcie Little Badger and illustrated by Abigail Rajunov
Maisie, Joel, and Verona are three cousins who live in a trailer park that is surrounded by creatures, both safe and murderous. For Maisie, life’s never been the same since her best friend died and Owl, harbinger of ill tidings, made her a visit. Joel’s been forced into a summer of kitten fostering, thanks in part to some bad decision-making. Verona is so desperate to leave the trailer park that she’s willing to watch a haunted house. Then there’s Owl–despite who he is, he cares deeply about each of these kids.
Little Badger’s latest book weaves together four stories, illustrated by Rajunov, that play with good and evil, myth and reality. It looks SO good. —Kelly Jensen