In this young adult novel by award-winning author Anna-Marie McLemore, two non-binary teens are pulled into a magical world under a lake – but can they keep their worlds above water intact?
Everyone who lives near the lake knows the stories about the world underneath it, an ethereal landscape rumored to be half-air, half-water. But Bastián Silvano and Lore Garcia are the only ones who’ve been there. Bastián grew up both above the lake and in the otherworldly space beneath it. Lore’s only seen the world under the lake once, but that one encounter changed their life and their fate.
Then the lines between air and water begin to blur. The world under the lake drifts above the surface. If Bastián and Lore don’t want it bringing their secrets to the surface with it, they have to stop it, and to do that, they have to work together. There’s just one problem: Bastián and Lore haven’t spoken in seven years, and working together means trusting each other with the very things they’re trying to hide.
🔸 diverse characters 🔸
🔸 beautiful fantasy/creative🔸
🔸 read the content warnings if possible🔸
🔸 character driver, switching POV🔸
Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore is another one of those lovely books that is difficult to write about. It’s not easy to even categorize this novel in a genre and I really like that. I would say that this is a lovely, young adult fantasy novel with some marvellous diversity.
Bastián has trouble staying still. Their whole life they have been dealing with forgetting things, being distracted, and not being able to focus. Diagnosed with ADHD, Bastián has learned some good ways to make their life easier. Their older brother taught them how to make alebrijes. Bastián puts his mistakes, concerns, anxieties into the alebrijes and then sets them free into the local lake. What Bastián doesn’t expect is that they begin to animate and live beneath the surface of the lake.
When Bastián meets Lore something strange happens. As they two young people connect with one another the world below the surface of the lake begins to leak into the regular world. Bastián and Lore must work together and trust is difficult for both of them.
I loved the way that the author has described the neurodiversity of these characters. There are many wonderful conversations in the book between the characters as they explain how it is that they see the world. There is a supportive group of friends that appear throughout the story – each of these voices is unique and adds so much to the story.
This is the first book I’ve read of McLemore’s and I would definitely read more. This is a creative, beautiful, and emotional story. Can’t say enough good about this book. It will be a great addition to any collection and should absolutely be included in school libraries.
Things You May Want To Know: Please be aware, I’m by no means an expert on what may or may not have the potential to disturb people. I simply list things that I think a reader might want to be aware of. In this book: (SPOILERS) racism, transphobia, misgendering, violence, blood, ableism
Goodreads || Author || Publisher
I received an ARC of Lakelore by Ann-Marie McLemore from Fewer & Friends – Macmillan via Edelweiss in exchange for an unbiased review.
Kinzie Things 