Fire from the Sky

MICHAEL L. PRINTZ HONOR WINNER

KIRKUS BEST OF THE YEAR

From 23-year-old Sami debut novelist and reindeer owner Moa Backe Astot, Fire From the Sky comes a queer coming-of-age story about heritage, family ties and age-old commitments to the past.

Ante's life has been steeped in Sami tradition. It is indisputable to him that he, an only child, will keep working with the reindeer. But there is something else too, something tugging at him: his feelings for his best friend Erik have changed, grown into something bigger. Ante is so aware of Erik and his body in relation to his own; everything he does matters so much. What would people say if they knew? And how does Erik feel? And Erik's voice just the push of a button away. Ante couldn't answer, could he? But how could he ignore it? Fire From the Sky will warm your heart as Ante experiences the magical, soul-combusting feeling of first love.

P R A I S E

? "Fire From the Sky is a superb account of one boy's struggle to be himself. Astot does an exemplary job invoking Sami culture, and an especially good job of capturing Ante's turbulent emotions, dramatically ratcheting up tension, as it is often agony for Ante to be around the friend he's so in love with. Much of Ante's experience is universal, and empathic readers will hope urgently for his happiness." --Booklist (starred)

? "A rare and triumphant look at what it means for queerness to stay put, with all the messiness and pain that entails. . . . A fresh voice and a setting that's pure fire." --Kirkus Reviews (starred)