Review by Booklist Review
Kai Sosa still grieves for his older sister, Cali, who disappeared while surfing two years ago. Popular and a swimming phenom, Cali made a mark on the world around her, and Kai struggles to shoulder the weight of stepping into her place on the elite Aquarius swim team. Nevertheless, he's determined to succeed, largely because he knows Cali believed in his ability. Ryan blurs the finality of Cali's presumed death by blending reality with myth and magic. Harnessing elements of the legendary, gold-encrusted island of California and the myth of the island of Amazons, Ryan fashions a secondary tale of an underwater kingdom inhabited by merpeople (here called mermaliens). This original myth is threaded through the story via passages from a book of folklore that Cali loved, as well as by Ryan's deliberate bleeding of it into the main narrative. No clear answers are delivered to Kai or the reader, but touchstones within the mermalien story help Kai move forward from his sadness. An original exploration of grief that casts the difficult emotions it brings as precious treasure.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Recently honored with the Children's Literature Legacy Award, Ryan has clout with readers old and young.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Eighth grader Kai Sosa contends with grief following his older sister's death in this powerful tale by Newbery Honoree Muñoz Ryan. Two years prior to the book's start, Kai's 16-year-old sister Cali, a record-breaking competitive swimmer, waded into the Pacific Ocean and never returned. Named for Califia, the mythic Amazonian queen who inspired the name of California, Cali was passionate about aquatic mythology and shared this love with Kai. Hoping to emulate Cali, Kai joins a swim team but falls short of the demanding expectations. He's distracted thinking about Cali's disappearance, the legend of Queen Califia, and the entity's Library of Despair and Sorrow purportedly hidden in the ocean. When Coach Dominie and Assistant Coach Xosé take the team to practice in the open ocean, Kai embarks on an otherworldly experience that leaves him questioning reality. Delicate, blue-lined digital illustrations by Cepeda (The Best Worst Camp Out Ever) amp up the surreal atmosphere and magical realism elements of Kai's journey through loss. An author's note concludes. Spanish-language edition publishing simultaneously. Ages 8--12. Author's agent: Kendra Marcus, Bookstop Literary. Illustrator's agent: Jen Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--7--Ryan's latest is a whirlwind of emotions, a story that glistens like sunlight on waves and plunges deep into grief, identity, and destiny. Kai Sosa isn't just a swimmer seeking glory; he's a brother caught between reality and the whispers of the sea, where his lost and presumed dead sister seems to be sending him a message. Ryan weaves a narrative that moves like the tide, one that is at times calm and reflective, and at others wild and relentless. The swimming competition, Kai's struggle to live up to his family's legacy, and the mystery of a missing gold cuff intertwine in a breathtaking story infused with magical realism. Every stroke in the water is a battle against the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future. With poetic and evocative prose, the book captures the ache of loss and the hope that lingers even in the most unpredictable currents. VERDICT More than a novel, this is a journey into the heart of a boy searching for answers and a lost piece of himself, and a story that will linger with readers.--Aurora Dominguez
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Review by Horn Book Review
Thirteen-year-old Kai is anxious to continue the family legacy on his new elite swim team. Since his superstar older sister, Cali, disappeared while surfing two years before, swimming has felt bittersweet. Authorities have moved on from the search, but Kai receives signs that Cali is still out there: a dolphin with unique markings that the two of them had spotted together visits when he surfs, and Kai even hears Cali call out to him from their backyard beach in the middle of the night. When Kai discovers his sister's favorite book about an ancient, underwater Realm, the mythical sunken Island of California, ruled by Queen Califia (for whom Cali is named), he becomes convinced that's where she has gone. The novel is divided into four sections -- Above, Below, Between, Beyond -- and excerpts from the mythology book are interspersed, mirroring the plot's blend of fantasy and realism. Kai tries to keep his grief distant, but it permeates his life, both with his newfound obsession with mythology and with more earthly concerns such as awkward interactions with peers addressing his loss and the worrying drop in his swimming performance. Whimsical pencil-style digital drawings bring the elaborate Realm to life in a way that feels cathartic, and for anyone who has experienced the call of the water, this book is a thoughtful exploration of the wonders of the ocean -- real, imagined, and unexplained. Monica de los ReyesJuly/August 2025 p.104 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
San Diego boy Kai Sosa's older sister, Cali, was a championship swimmer; two years ago, she disappeared in a dense ocean fog and is presumed dead. When Kai is recruited by Cali's elite swim team, he faces the pressure of living up to her legacy while navigating his grief and struggling to reclaim his competitive edge in the sport. The coaches have an unorthodox approach that leaves Kai and his teammates questioning whether they'll be ready to compete. Amid this turmoil, Kai discovers an overdue library book that Cali borrowed,The Elusive Island of California. It's filled with lore about Queen Califia and a mythical submerged island. The book's tales of gold, a Library of Despair and Sorrow, and a mysterious underwater realm strike an eerie chord with Kai. As vivid dreams and sleepwalking episodes draw him to the ocean, Mexican American Kai begins to wonder if the legendary island could actually exist and if the myths might hold clues to Cali's disappearance. Blending the emotional depth of grief with the intrigue of mythology, Ryan's story explores the intersection of family, resilience, and natural weather cycles in Southern California. The magic of the Califia legend is tempered by the reality of life after loss, and both aspects of the story are richly detailed. The navy blue font and Cepeda's striking illustrations complement the uniquely beautiful story.(This review was updated for clarity.)A compelling tale of love, loss, and myth. (author's note)(Fiction. 8-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
