Stream
(The Moon Within)

Gr 6 Up--A novel in verse from two perspectives about balancing life online and connecting in the physical world. Salazar revisits characters from earlier works, Celi from The Moon Within and Elio from Ultraviolet, but it is not necessary to have read either of the other books to sink into this one. The protagonists have been sent to rural Mexico for the summer, where both have family connections and Celia has roots in Indigenous culture, for a forced phone detox. Elio is lost in his world of gaming, and Celi is trying to go viral as an Instagram influencer. The book design makes it easy to distinguish between characters by using opposing alignment, which also reinforces the notion of a stream. The story dives into contemporary issues and veers into being a little didactic at times, but the plot and characters make it a compelling read. The supporting characters include LGBTQIA+ representation. In the end, both teens start high school at the same school with a better understanding of their identities, a budding romance in the real world, and the ability to step away from their screens. VERDICT A relevant, engaging, contemporary novel in verse from two perspectives about what is lost when teens make the online world their whole focus and what can be gained by reconnecting with nature, each other, and culture.--Erin Wyatt

In this thought-provoking contemporary verse novel, Salazar (Ultraviolet) turns a compassionate eye toward two 13-year-olds seeking online validation who learn to unplug. Celi dreams of becoming an influencer, masking shame about her appearance behind carefully curated social media posts. Elio, reeling from a breakup and recovering from heart surgery, retreats into an all-consuming video game habit that tanks his grades. When a video of Celi twerking at a party goes viral, her parents send her to spend the summer with her no-nonsense tías in Mexico. Meanwhile, Elio--similarly exiled for his poor academic performance--crosses the border to stay with a family friend and complete an environmental project intended to pull him offline and back into the world. With her aunts' guidance, Celi learns the rhythms of herbal remedies and intergenerational care, while Elio finds purpose reinforcing a riverbank to prevent flooding. After a minor injury brings Elio to Celi's doorstep, their hesitant friendship blossoms, rooted in shared vulnerability and cultural rediscovery. Though some slang may already feel dated to savvy readers, spare, briskly paced lines sensitively explore addiction, bicultural identity, and body image. The result is an accessible, heartwarming story that offers timely reflections on authenticity in the digital age. Characters are Latinx. Ages 10-up. Agent: Marietta B. Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (June)