Praise for My Dear Henry:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
The Nerd Daily Most Anticipated 2023 Release
Buzzfeed Most Anticipated Winter 2023 YA
"Addressing invisibility, power, and passion, Bayron’s updated classic simmers with Gothic imagery, romance, and a robust exploration of what it means to be whole. A vibrant retelling." —Kirkus Reviews
"Bayron captures the tone and pace of a Victorian novel in Gabriel's first-person narrative uncoiling the dramatic plot precisely yet at a pace that won't lose the reader. The emotional elements and conflict add tension, and this latest in the Remixed Classics series will satisfy readers." —Booklist
"Part of the exquisite Remixed Classics series, this take on Jekyll & Hyde is more proof that Bayron is a must-read YA author. ... An atmospheric, eerie retelling centering a Black, queer main character." —Buzzfeed
Praise for Remixed Classics:
"Lee (the Sidekick Squad series) elegantly situates Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1882 Treasure Island against a richly embroidered Qing dynasty backdrop in this carefully crafted queer interpretation. ... Inspired by female pirate Zheng Yi Sao, this deeply immersive adventure features deftly interwoven Chinese and Vietnamese, luscious culinary descriptions, and well-rendered explorations of imperialism, treasure, found family, and love." —Publishers Weekly, starred review, on A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
"'Fun' doesn’t even begin to describe this rich and imaginative retelling of Treasure Island. ... It’s obvious that this book was a labor of love, which made it all the more enjoyable to read. Pirate stories don’t get much better than this." —Hypable, on A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
"Morrow’s ability to take the lingering stain of slavery on American history and use it as a catalyst for unbreakable love and resilience is flawless. That she has remixed a canonical text to do so only further illuminates the need to critically question who holds the pen in telling our nation’s story." —Booklist, starred review, on So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
"Impressive ... Via delicately written characterizations, each March woman exemplifies the notion that the wounds of bondage don’t disappear simply because freedom is at hand, and the racist catalyst of enslavement doesn’t disappear with the stroke of a pen, as a beloved story gains new meaning through the lens of enduring Black resilience, love, and hope." —Publishers Weekly, starred review, on So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
"Rousing ... Wholly original in its cultural perspective and its centering of strong female characters. ... By creating an almost all-female cast, Safi makes women the heart of her story at a time when they were seen as a 'bargaining chip.'" —Shelf Awareness, starred review
"In Travelers Along the Way, Safi has assembled the perfect team to steal my heart. This is the thoughtful, thought-provoking, and wildly fun retelling of Robin Hood you’ve been waiting for!" —Kiersten White, New York Times-bestselling author of And I Darken, on Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
"A gorgeously reclaimed Gothic. Atmospheric and incisive, What Souls Are Made Of cuts deep into the question of identity and the ghosts of legacy haunting these windswept moors. I’m a Tasha Suri fan for life." —Chloe Gong, New York Times-bestselling author of These Violent Delights, on What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri
"This remix of Wuthering Heights is an epic piece of historical fiction, and a testament to Suri's incredible storytelling skills." —Buzzfeed, on What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri
"McLemore’s triumphant retelling is for anyone who read The Great Gatsby and thought, this book needs to be much gayer ... In this satisfying, emotional journey that celebrates love, family, friendship, identity, and forging one’s own path, McLemore captures the spirit of the original while adding nuance and depth, setting a new bar for what a great retelling can be." —Booklist, starred review, on Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore
"Compelling and satisfying for Gatsby fans, critics, and neophytes alike, avoiding and subverting tropes and giving the main quartet the happy endings they deserve. In this absolutely stunning work, McLemore delivers their signature lyrical prose and rich symbolism. ... Richy imagined, fiercely tender, and achingly beautiful. —Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore
Praise for Kalynn Bayron:
"A verdant read as rich as the greenery within it, This Poison Heart will wrap its vines around you and never let go." —Kayla Ancrum, author of The Wicker King and Darling, on This Poison Heart
"Bayron weaves science and Greek mythology into a captivating lore that lends weight to this fantastical contemporary story. She conjures entertaining and realistic dialogue and attentive characterization, while incisive descriptions and sumptuous prose evoke a wonderfully gothic atmosphere." —Publishers Weekly, starred review, on This Poison Heart
"This Poison Heart masterfully weaves a unique story grounded in the depths of Greek mythology and Black girlhood, ideal for lovers of folklore or those who enjoy the thrill of a well-paced and unanticipated adventure." —Booklist, starred review, on This Poison Heart
"Kalynn Bayron does more than re-write a fairy-tale . . . She breaks it apart and rebuilds it into a wholly original and captivating story where girls finally decide for themselves who lives happily ever after." —Brigid Kemmerer, New York Times-bestselling author of A Curse So Dark and Lonely, on Cinderella Is Dead
"Flipping the Cinderella tale on its head, Bayron’s take challenges patriarchy with kick-butt heroines and a counter-story that will forever change how readers perceive fairy tales." —Booklist, starred review, on Cinderella Is Dead
2022-12-24
A mysterious stranger captivates in this reimagining of a Robert Louis Stevenson tale.
Gabriel Utterson sets out as a student at the London School for Medical Studies determined to become a successful professional despite the discriminatory hiring practices of the Victorian era. He takes a room at a nearby boardinghouse for Black students run by kindhearted Miss Laurie. There he meets handsome fellow resident Henry Jekyll, whose father teaches at the university they both attend. Gabriel’s budding relationship with Henry causes much campus gossip, straining Dr. Jekyll’s already tenuous position as an underappreciated, often disrespected instructor. The whirlwind romance between Henry and Gabriel soon unravels due to the combined racism and homophobia pervading the medical school establishment. Amid scandalous hints of their affair, Henry’s father is fired, and both young men are expelled from the institution in disgrace. Henry becomes secretive—and an oddly familiar man named Hyde is spotted coming and going freely from the Jekyll home, sparking Gabriel’s jealousy and curiosity. He is taken on as law clerk by the lecherous Sir Danvers Carew, a powerful White man working in medical law, but Carew’s escalating harassment of Gabriel eventually leads to violence that sends Gabriel to a friend’s house for help. He follows a twisting path to uncovering Henry’s secret. Addressing invisibility, power, and passion, Bayron’s updated classic simmers with Gothic imagery, romance, and a robust exploration of what it means to be whole.
A vibrant retelling. (content warning, author’s note) (Historical mystery. 13-18)
