Through the Black Gate - by Alfredo Cáceres (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Four starred reviews!

A "[p]oignant, insightful, and otherworldly" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) middle grade graphic novel about an orphaned girl and a music-loving boy who venture into the land of the dead with the hope of seeing their loved ones again.

Thirteen-year-old orphan Irene believes her father's soul is trapped inside her cat, Moses. Living at her caregiver Ruth's hostel, Irene spends every waking hour studying a mystical book that her parents left behind in the fire that took their lives. Irene thinks the book can help her see them again, if only Moses will give her a clue.

Then, just as a strange fog sweeps over their quiet Chilean town, a mysterious young musician named Francis moves into the hostel. Irene and her new roommate don't particularly get along, but Moses soon leads them both through the fog to a strange tear in reality: an entrance to the Land of the Dead.

Believing this is the key to seeing her parents again, Irene and Francis cross to the other side. There, they encounter the Ferryman of the Dead, who is desperate to escape into the Land of the Living. The Ferryman offers to return Irene and Francis's loved ones in exchange for their help. In the face of such a massive promise, Irene and Francis must decide whether to risk the fate of both the Lands of the Living and the Dead or be braver than they ever thought possible.

Review Quotes

* "Cáceres elegantly folds an exploration of death's impenetrable finality into this quirky fantasy, showing how different ways of coping with grief can comfort or destroy. The illustrations highlight whimsical details of the Graylands--jewel-toned skies, an Escheresque fortress--which echo the destabilizing nature of grief. Fluffy grey-and-white Moses is an expressive and appealing companion on the surreal journey. Poignant, insightful, and otherworldly."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Even as Cáceres' art offers us gently and poignantly accessible characters, it also paints a vast world of surreal nightmare, masterfully modulated to a level of unease that will thrill and intrigue young readers. And as the adventurers confront a force that's infected the Graylands, darkening them and making them cruel, Cáceres' story finds the perfect middle ground, preserving an echo of grown-up woes to highlight the profound importance of both connecting to people and letting them go."--Booklist, starred review

* "Two Chilean children and a mystical cat traverse a liminal realm of the dead in this atmospheric solo debut, a graphic novel about grief and healing. . . . Illustrations evoke Coraline vibes, heightening both the interpersonal stakes and the uncanny mood of the eerie landscape as the children confront turbulent emotions and avoid fantastical obstacles. Striking artwork and metaphor-laden plotting combine to deliver a satisfying adventure that posits alternative ways to process grief and emphasizes the importance of hope."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

About the Author

Alfredo Cáceres is an author and illustrator from Santiago, Chile. He has worked in picture books, magazines, newspapers, and video games, including the acclaimed Blight Harbor series and New York Times bestseller The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science. His debut graphic novel Through the Black Gate is based on the city of Valdivia, Chile, where he grew up between rain and moss. Visit him on Instagram @RedoLaf.