The Infinite (The Leap Cycle #1)

British Nigerian Elle Bíbi-Imbelé Ifíè, who is autistic, is a Leapling: someone born on February 29. Now that’s she’s approaching her seventh year at Intercalary International—a top secret boarding school for the 0.6 % of Leaplings who have what Elle calls The Gift—she’s finally allowed to use the time-travel ability she’s cultivated at school to participate on a class trip to 2048. Once there, she’ll tour Time Squad Headquarters, home to an elite team of time travelers responsible for maintaining order across all time. It’s there that Elle and her math-savvy best friend Big Ben—who reads as white and is also autistic—learn that Leaplings have been disappearing across myriad timelines. Teaming up with a Leapling named Ama who’s searching for her missing brother, Elle and Big Ben endeavor to piece together the clues and save the vanished Leaplings. Occasionally leaning on familiar tropes when developing the variously neurodivergent cast, debut author Agbabi nevertheless delivers a layered, time-bending adventure through Elle’s astute and cheeky narration, intertwining a clever mystery with lightly ecologically focused problem-solving. Ages 9–11. (May)