Erin Entrada Kelly wrote one of the best works of middle grade realism I’ve ever read - her Newbery-winning Hello, Universe is simply sublime. Lalani of the Distant Sea is her first fantasy book, so I was curious to see if she could write speculative fiction nearly as well as she does realistic. I was delighted to find that the answer is, unequivocally, yes.

Lalani, inspired by Filipino folklore, combines the sweeping lyrical voice of a fable with strong characterization. As in Kelly’s previous work, there is a strong emphasis on the human duty to be kind to one another, but that doesn’t mean this book is all puppies and rainbows. In fact, it’s sometimes surprisingly gruesome. Kelly doesn’t pull any punches. Hard decisions are made, and there are hard consequences, bloody deaths. One thing I liked so much about Hello, Universe was that the bully did not magically unlearn all his toxic, racist, ableist behavior and become friends with the protagonists over the course of a day (the book’s timeline) - he lost. Lalani takes that even further by having an adult abuser get his comeuppance in a major way. It’s very satisfying to read a kids’ book that doesn’t shy away from that kind of thing, that values love and kindness and that recognizes that sometimes, in order to be loving and kind, you need to reject abusers and prioritize their victims. This book tackles misogyny and toxic masculinity without ever becoming preachy - the narrative speaks for itself. And Lalani herself, a somewhat insecure girl who learns just how strong she can be when it means fighting for for the people she loves, is a terrific protagonist.

This is an exciting, tender, compassionate book about the courage it takes to stand up for the vulnerable. One of a kind.