Flyboy

Gr 9 Up–Ash lives two distinct lives: a secret one as a teenage boy since most people misgender him, and the other as his authentic self but only in his dreams at the Midnight Circus. Ash trudges through his daytime hours at a Catholic school with his bestie Moira by his side, dreading nearly every aspect of his waking world. At night, he dreams a full life performing in the Midnight Circus. Suddenly, both lives collide when his supposedly imaginary trapeze partner Apollo walks into his actual classroom as a late transfer student. Things begin to fall apart everywhere. Bigotry and hate pile up in his community while the circus becomes less and less of a perfect escape. College choices, smothering family members, and local politics all collide into an ugly perfect storm that spills into his dream life and Ash can’t breathe. The characters’ truths crescendo into a massive climax, finally allowing for space to heal and move forward. Debut author LeBlanc does a tremendous job fleshing out believable, fully realized characters that demand to be seen. Strong plot pacing with hints of mystery and a budding romance will keep readers hooked until the end. Most characters are cued white and there are multiple characters with LGBTQIA+ representation.