Fraternity

Three queer teens reckon with supernatural powers beyond their control in this sweeping work of dark academia by Mientus (the Backstagers series), set in the early 1990s. Students Leo, Daniel, and Zooey have bonded over the fact that they all like boys. While Zooey “wouldn’t, couldn’t, admit it,” he’s relieved when Daniel and Leo welcome him into their Massachusetts all-boys boarding school’s secret gay club, the Vicious Circle. After the homophobic bullying of Zooey by classmates outside VC takes a severe turn, Daniel and Leo share the grimoire with which they’ve been experimenting, which contains spells they believe can help him manage his torment. The powers they summon, however, and their devastating consequences, leave the trio struggling to protect themselves from unpredictable paranormal forces. The spells the teens perform from the grimoire, and descriptions of the secret society from which it originates, lean into antisemitic stereotypes. Alternating perspectives explore myriad facets of queer experiences and their intersections with race and class, and fantastical occult happenings adeptly intertwine with real-world issues such as conversion therapy and the AIDS crisis. An author’s note contextualizes instances of sexual violence. Zooey is white and Korean; Daniel is Black; Leo is white-cued. Ages 14–up. Agent: Michael Mahan, Peikoff Mahan. (Sept.)

Correction: The text of this review has been updated for clarity.