The Vanished Ones

November 1, 2024
Grades 5-8 Boys living at the Mission on the Hill on Rhodenroode Island, where they are indoctrinated in the faith, have been vanishing since the colony was founded. Any talk about these disappearances is met with scrutiny and, at times, punishment, so when Darian's fellow apprentice goes missing, the questions bubbling inside him threaten to burst. He confides in close friend--and crush--Micah, who also questions the dogma forced upon them by the Order, but when they're caught together in the attic of the library, their secret investigation into the vanishings is ended. As questions mount, Micah plans to escape the lies holding them at the Mission. Unable to let the one person he loves disappear, Darian follows Micah on a search for answers. In a world that resembles our own, Lucas builds an engaging mystery with a dash of Afrofuturism, giving a thoughtful reflection on colonialism and its effects on society. Fans of Marvel's Black Panther and stories like The Dark Crystal will enjoy this journey into the island wilds.

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November 1, 2024
An orphan boy raised in a religious mission begins to question his existence. The strict training of the Mission on the Hill on Rhodenroode Island is all 13-year-old Darian remembers. Being the only brown-skinned boy has resulted in some bullying, but he tries to stay out of trouble. One of the few bright spots in his life is working in the village bakery. But when Gregor, the other apprentice, disappears, and the Apostle makes it clear that they shouldn't ask questions, Darian becomes alarmed. When he's unable to stop his best friend, Micah, from running away, he decides to join him on a harrowing journey. Fortunately, they're rescued by Zaide Odambo, a fearless Black girl, and her sibling, Ikebi, who take them to their community, Kyange. The boys quickly learn that everything they've been told about the lands and people outside the Mission is untrue; for one thing, the island's original name is Lagoja. Hearing of an imminent invasion of Lagoja, Darian convinces his new friends to help save the boys who are still trapped there, which leads to the discovery of the depth of the corruption of the Brothers in charge of the Mission. Drawing on the history of the role of religion in colonization, Lucas has crafted a compelling, action-filled narrative in which Darian embodies both hope and the story's central tension. A sweet romance also grows between Darian and Micah. A thoughtful depiction of youthful triumph over adult exploitation. (content advisory)(Speculative fiction. 10-14)

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December 2, 2024
One orphaned tween’s restrictive religious upbringing triggers an existential epiphany in this contemplative adventure by Lucas (You Owe Me, Universe). Raised in Mission on the Hill, a faction of the Order of the Right Hand located on western Rhodenroode Island, 13-year-old Darian possesses a keen intellect and inquisitive nature, traits that initially garner praise from their wizened leader, the Apostle. But as the only resident with “deep brown skin,” Darian wants to know where his own people came from; why he and his only friend Micah, a boy who speaks in sign language, were accused of “intimate fraternization”; and why members have been vanishing from the Mission without explanation. The rigid monotony of life at Mission on the Hill gives way to rollicking adventure when Micah, accompanied by Darian, flees during a storm. The novel’s initially enigmatic opening turns brisk and thrilling as the boys encounter Zaide, a girl from the east with skin like Darian’s. It’s amid her community that Darian begins to piece together the puzzle of his lineage and uncover the truth behind his peers’ disappearances. Darian and Micah’s budding romance is a tender addition to this absorbing and hopeful tale. Ages 10–14. Agent: Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis.