Children of the Phoenix

Vietnamese Swedish tween Alice and her younger brother Elias are perfectly normal middle schoolers leading perfectly normal lives in Sweden with their mechanic father and researcher mother. But when an argument between their parents results in their mother's mysterious disappearance, Alice and Elias set off on an adventure to find her that turns their once mundane life on Earth into an intergalactic adventure. Their search leads them farther from home than they've ever been before: into the stars, where they uncover a startling secret about their mother, and realize that they're not the only ones looking for her. Källner eschews expository prose surrounding the expansive sci-fi world's lore and vocabulary to hit the ground running, swiftly corralling the protagonists out of their everyday lives and into an interstellar landscape. Occasional comics and spot illustrations by Johnsson are rendered in vibrantly saturated full color, aptly punctuating dramatic or emotional moments without disrupting the narrative flow. Together, Källner's straightforward prose, the intriguing overarching mystery, and Johnsson's expressive art craft an immersive world that's easy to get lost in and will have readers eager for the next installment. Ages 7--12. (Dec.)