Hex Americana

Ken is obsessed with all things race car, but falling for a ghost racer is a bit extreme--even for him. When Ken stumbles upon the ghost of the Speed Demon himself, Dante Willows, he is launched into an odyssey like no other. Together, will Dante and Ken place first in the grand prix, Hex Americana, and finally send Dante to the afterlife? All Dante has wanted for the past 20 years is to move on, but what if Ken wants him to stick around? This wacky adventure comic is packed with off-the-wall magical creatures. Wolf's lovable protagonists and goofy, Cartoon Network-esque style create a world of speed, wonder, and maybe even a little bit of romance. Written by game designer and author of Maker Comics: How to Make a Game, this graphic novel is an ideal choice for middle-school and early high-school readers nostalgic for the boisterous magic of the Hilo series. Buckle up and hold tight because these quirky characters are taking you on a journey full of twists, turns, monsters, and redemption.

Wolf (Design a Game!) fires up a rip-roaring tale of young love and betrayal in this Speed Racer meets Monster High graphic novel adventure. With his friends all away for the summer, queer Yokai teen Ken Takamoto doesn't have much to do except accompany his mother to her teaching gig, where he regales her monster students with tales of Dante Willow, the legendary Speed Demon of Echo Caverns. He dreams of becoming a renowned racer like Dante, so when he lands face-to-face with the Speed Demon's ghost, Ken feels like he's on the right track. Dante, meanwhile, has spent the past 20 years thinking about his final, fatal showdown with ex-boyfriend and racing rival Mason Higgs. When Ken offers to help Dante move on by winning one last race--the fabled Hex Americana Grand Prix--their partnership sets them down a path that unravels Dante's final living days. Bold highlights and shadows add verve to playful monster character designs and small-town backdrops. Using Ken and Dante's lofty dreams as a vehicle, Wolf dials in on somber themes of loss, which are punctuated by uplifting depictions of found family and drag racing action. Ages 8--12. (Aug.)

Gr 7 Up--Ken, a "Yokai-American" teen, lives in a supernatural town populated by a colorful mix of monsters and other creatures. Although he's barely a novice driver, Ken's obsession is the town's all-star racing tournament, Hex Americana, and its many celebrities. After Ken falls through the ground into a hidden cave, he meets Dante Willow, the ghost of a legendary 17-year-old Hex Americana racer who died in what appeared to be a tragic racing accident. Sparks soon fly between the two as they team up to race Dante's car, solve the mysteries surrounding his death, and right some old wrongs. Teens will be drawn in by the flirty exchanges between Dante and Ken as well as the action-packed car racing sequences. The age of the main characters coupled with the sweet story and lack of mature content make this a relevant selection for both middle school and high school libraries. Although the main plot is nicely resolved, a central mystery is never unraveled, leaving readers with questions that could potentially be answered in further volumes. Ken is coded as Japanese American, while Dante appears white, and both identify as gay. Side characters represent a variety of skin tones and identities. VERDICT Packed with gnomes, mummies, witches, and cyclops mechanics more cute and comedic than creepy, this fun fantasy will appeal to fans of Molly Knox Ostertag and Grace Ellis.--Catherine Cote

When the stakes are high, can an unlikely underdog team win the big race? After falling into an underground cavern, sweet high schooler Ken Takamoto's entire life changes: He meets the ghost of legendary Dante Willow, known as Speed Demon. Twenty years ago, Dante famously died during the Hex Americana car race against his rival--and then-boyfriend--Mason Higgs. Ken, a racing enthusiast, now finds himself entangled with Dante, who wants to find closure so he may pass over. Hex Americana founder Nate Orson, who trained Mason, challenges Ken to race for the Grand Prix, ultimately pitting him against Seth, Orson's own son, who is now trained by Mason. Will Ken be able to win the race and also help the ghost he loves? Wolf's full-color stand-alone graphic novel is wonderfully clever and weird, blending auto racing, fantasy tropes, and swoony romance. Readers are treated to everything from gnomes, a mechanically talented cyclops, a ghost prospector, and even Baba Yaga (who, of course, has a chicken-legged car). The worldbuilding is immersive and imaginative and offers recognizable parallels to our world as Ken navigates homophobia and toxic masculinity. In this delightfully nuanced and intricate tale of relationships, Wolf explores not only romantic love, but the challenges in parent-child relationships and friendships. Ken is gay, has light-brown skin and black hair, and refers to himself as "Yokai-American"; other humanoid characters are diverse in appearance. A sweet and quirky romance sure to set hearts racing. (Graphic fiction. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.