Through the Black Gate

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 from Cáceres (Pennies). Following a devastating fire that kills her parents while she’s away, young Irene is left with only the smoldering remains of their home. While investigating the scene, Irene finds the body of her cat, Moses, which briefly glows from within before inexplicably reanimating. When the resurrected feline leads her to an unscathed book titled The Comprehensive Guide to the Graylands in her late father’s study, Irene becomes convinced that her dad’s soul now resides inside the cat. Moving into family friend Ruth’s hostel, Irene determines to decode the mystery surrounding Moses, the fire, and the Graylands, which the book describes as a fog-draped world of restless wandering souls, all while thwarting Moses’s escape attempts. After newly arrived Francis, Ruth’s guitar-playing nephew who’s navigating his own loss, inadvertently assists Moses’s latest breakout, Francis and Irene follow the cat back to the charred house—and through a portal to the Graylands. 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. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jennifer Azantian, Azantian Literary. (June)