Cáceres, Alfredo. Through the Black Gate. Alfredo Cáceres, Illus. Atheneum, 06/2026. 272pp. Graphic. Trade $24.99. 978-1-6659-4183-9. Paper $14.99. 978-1-6659-4182-2. GRADES 4–7. OUTSTANDING.
After losing her parents in a fire, thirteen-year-old Irene moves in with her aunt and strained prodigy cousin Francis in rainy Chile, convinced her father’s spirit lives inside her escape-prone cat, Moses. When Moses escapes, Irene blames Francis, and their pursuit leads them into a luminous, fantastical world that reveals deep truths about life’s impermanence. Through this magical journey, the cousins learn to navigate their shared grief through love and mutual acceptance. Alfredo Cáceres creates a surreal, magical world in this children’s graphic novel that successfully conveys the human condition and the process of grieving. Recommended for younger readers who are mature enough with the help of their parents to have conversations about death and grief. While some illustrations might be scary for younger readers, the overall message emphasizes the importance of human connection and needing others.
Pedro Perez—Berkeley Public Library