Kacen Callender

Kingston James – ou apenas King para os amigos – é um garoto de doze anos e tem certeza de que seu irmão, Khalid, virou uma libélula. Apesar de Khalid ter morrido inesperadamente e se transformado em uma libélula do bayou, uma região pantanosa da pequena cidade de Lousiana, ele ainda se mantém sempre próximo de King, fazendo visitas em seus sonhos. Lidar com tudo isso seria mais fácil se o garoto pudesse buscar o apoio de seu melhor amigo, Sandy Sanders — mas, como último conselho ainda em vida, Khalid disse a King para romper a amizade com Sandy, pois havia descoberto que ele poderia ser gay: "Você não quer que ninguém pense que você é gay também, ou quer?". Quando Sandy desaparece, colocando toda a cidade à sua procura, King descobre que seu ex-melhor amigo está mais perto do que imagina, em uma barraca no quintal, se escondendo do pai abusivo. Assim, os dois começam uma aventura, construindo um paraíso privado no bayou, entre as libélulas. À medida que a amizade de Sandy e King é retomada, ele é forçado a confrontar questões sobre si mesmo e sobre a morte do irmão. King e as libélulas explora raça, sexualidade, luto e identidade de uma forma íntima e próxima aos jovens, com uma lição de amor e libertação.

King e as libélulas

In a small but turbulent Louisiana town, one boy's grief takes him beyond the bayous of his backyard, to learn that there is no right way to be yourself. Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family. It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing a secret about Sandy-that he thinks he might be gay. "You don't want anyone to think you're gay too, do you?" But when Sandy goes missing, sparking a town-wide search, and King finds his former best friend hiding in a tent in his backyard, he agrees to help Sandy escape from his abusive father, and the two begin an adventure as they build their own private paradise down by the bayou and among the dragonflies. As King's friendship with Sandy is reignited, he's forced to confront questions about himself and the reality of his brother's death. The Thing About Jellyfish meets The Stars Beneath Our Feet in this story about loss, grief, and finding the courage to discover one's identity, from the author of Hurricane Child.

King and the Dragonflies

Courtney 

Jill Niemeier 

A beautiful middle grade novel that will be so valuable for young people, and people of all ages. I was quite touched by the story and cried a few times. I highly recommend that parents of young kids/preteens read this!!

In a small but turbulent Louisiana town, one boy's grief takes him beyond the bayous of his backyard, to learn that there is no right way to be yourself.

Flavia Louise

I really wasn't sure about this book at first but I ended up really liking it.

Nikita Willemsen

Katie

This was such a heartwarming story about grief and coming to terms with your identity. King is coping with the sudden loss of his older brother by trying to find the dragonfly that he believes Khalid has turned into after his death, while also realizing that he may be gay. His friendship with Sandy, who he helps hide after Sandy runs away from home, was really lovely to read about, especially since King started questioning his identity largely because Sandy trusted him enough to come out to him. There's a lot of really impactful discussions about discrimination and intersectionality, though worded in a way for the middle grade age range of course. I'm really happy I picked this book up on a whim, because I think it'll stick with me.

Kath Lau

This was a very impactful and beautiful read. I'm now a fan of this author!

sara louise

“we’re all made of light.”

4 stars.
absolutely beautiful and at times heartbreaking. I listened to the audiobook via spotify, and the narrator did such a good job.

Jayarna La Bozzetta

12 year old King is dealing with his brothers very recent death. We follow him through this journey of grieving, finding out who he is amongst his also grieving family and growing up. 

Marketed as a middle grade, this book transcends age groups. It is masterfully written and the perfect depiction of a young boy as he grapples with real life issues. It deals with so many things that people face as they get older - facing differences in others, grief and loss, the world around you. It is so poignant and lovely. It's set in Louisiana and I love reading books set in places with great description, it's almost like a plane ticket to the place itself!

The way all the issues are handled in this book is very real yet still always manage to carry the message of hope. The friendships and parenting is real yet lovely. I would recommend this to anyone, it's such a clear lens into one boys coming of age in a time of great grief.

Tori Carrillo

Hard hitting young reader book with serious topics handled in a delicate but very real way (no "sugarcoating"). Hopeful message without hiding the trauma; a great book for a child either struggling with identity and coming out, as well as a child handling grief or unexpected loss. Would definitely hold onto this one and recommend to others.

Kelsey Holtaway

First middle grade I’ve read in a while and dang. This book was one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. 

About grief, healing, and forgiveness, and how that layers with race, sexuality, class, and toxic masculinity. We’re following a little boy processing big feelings and i particularly loved following his thought process for working through his feelings. 

This book felt very ethereal, poetic, and atmospheric.

Kate

A beautiful, poignant, hopeful, yet ultimately bittersweet story of identity, grief and discovering your place in the world.

This is the kind of story you want to put into the hands of young people across the globe. It teaches empathy, being true to yourself and standing up for your right to be who you are. It's also a fantastic example of the different experiences people can have within a shared identity. 
There are too few books (both in general and in MG) exploring what it's like to be young, gay and Black and learning what that means in terms the world may treat you but this heartfelt, honest exploration of that is one I would recommend in a heartbeat.

(The narration of this book was also beautiful and one I would highly recommend.)

TW: racism, homophobia, domestic abuse due to homophobia

Mabel Palomera

Daphne

In a small but turbulent Louisiana town, one boy's grief takes him beyond the bayous of his backyard, to learn that there is no right way to be yourself. FOUR STARRED REVIEWS Booklist School Library Journal Publishers Weekly The Horn Book Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family. It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing a secret about Sandy-that he thinks he might be gay. You don't want anyone to think you're gay too, do you? But when Sandy goes missing, sparking a town-wide search, and King finds his former best friend hiding in a tent in his backyard, he agrees to help Sandy escape from his abusive father, and the two begin an adventure as they build their own private paradise down by the bayou and among the dragonflies. As King's friendship with Sandy is reignited, he's forced to confront questions about himself and the reality of his brother's death. The Thing About Jellyfish meets The Stars Beneath Our Feet in this story about loss, grief, and finding the courage to discover one's identity, from the author of Hurricane Child.

King e as libélulas

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