Publishers Weekly
★ 07/15/2024
For more than a year, Millie and her family have been hiding underground from the aftermath of the deadly Flicker, a solar flare that scorched Earth’s surface. After a scavenging mission gone wrong results in her stepfather’s death, Millie pledges to take her infant brother Sammy somewhere they can learn to survive nature’s new normal: South Carolina, home to Millie’s Seminole grandmother. Reluctantly accompanied by her white-cued stepsister Rose, Millie treks through a blistered Appalachia in search of her Indigenous roots. Along the way, Millie finds herself swept into a found family of survivors, becomes embroiled in Rose’s inquiry into a secret enclave, and must come face to face with a greedy, resource-hoarding organization called Hive. The palpable sense of futility that Millie feels in her pursuit of a better life for her and her siblings acts as a perceptive interpretation of tweens’ struggles to navigate contemporary societal upheaval. Meanwhile, incisive worldbuilding surrounding the climate collapse makes this middle grade debut a simultaneously cautionary tale and dystopian adventure in which Edgmon (Godly Heathens) showcases the unflagging power of community in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
Praise for The Flicker:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
★ "Edgmon’s middle grade debut is a dystopian, anti-capitalist, Indigenous, gender nonconforming love letter to tweens . . . The writing is engaging, the plot is lively, and the social dynamics are believable, even when presenting lessons. Edgmon doesn’t pull any punches with this book . . . Through a story with some genuinely frightening moments, Edgmon helps readers explore identity. After all, who are we after all the systems we’ve used to define ourselves crumble?" —School Library Journal, starred review
★ "Incisive worldbuilding surrounding the climate collapse makes this middle grade debut a simultaneously cautionary tale and dystopian adventure in which Edgmon showcases the unflagging power of community in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Edgmon’s middle-grade debut skillfully blends action and emotion . . . A compelling coming-of-age story." —Kirkus
"A cinematic postapocalyptic adventure grounded in meaningful emotional growth" —Booklist
"I'm so grateful to live in a world with Edgmon's writing, and The Flicker does not disappoint! With two beautifully unique and immersive POVS, Edgmon rips the reader apart, taking them past the point of certain hopelessness, and then — SOMEHOW! IMPOSSIBLY! — fixes them up with such skill and love, they will be left blinking in the sunlight. The Flicker is both a masterclass in character-driven narrative, a thrilling post-apocalyptic adventure, and a deeply moving story of Appalachia and the determination to survive." —Esme Symes-Smith, author of the Sir Callie series
"Bound up in a gripping page-turner, the soul of The Flicker is fierce, relentless love for chosen family, the natural world, and a humanity exploited almost to the point of extinction. With unblinking honesty, this story invites readers to hope, and hope tenaciously for a better way of living." —Alder Van Otterloo, author of Cattywampus and The Beautiful Something Else
“Millie and Rose grabbed my heart from the first page and refused to let go—even long after finishing their story. The Flicker is a brilliant middle-grade debut from Edgmon that’s equal parts unflinching and vulnerable. A beautifully crafted post-apocalyptic tale with a delightful, engaging queer cast, Edgmon’s story world burns bright with nuanced, complex themes of identity, family—both blood and found, and the pursuit of hope, purpose, and love in a hostile and dying world.” —Terry J. Benton-Walker, bestselling author of Alex Wise vs the End of the World and Blood Debts
School Library Journal
★ 08/01/2024
Gr 5 Up—Edgmon's (The Witch King) middle grade debut is a dystopian, anti-capitalist, Indigenous, gender nonconforming love letter to tweens. With the utmost respect for readers, Edgmon tells the story of Earth post-flicker, a solar flare that destroyed pretty much everything, through alternating-perspective chapters by recently orphaned stepsiblings Millie and Rose. Along for their quest is Corncob, their dog, and Sammy, their nine-month-old brother. They go to find Millie's grandmother, a Seminole elder, and The Sanctuary, a rumored place of protection. Opposing The Sanctuary is The Hive, a massive "e-commerce and information technology" hub hoarding resources and using overt violence to maintain a position of power. With the help of the Lost Boys and their reclaimed bus, Millie and Rose must find their purpose and survive in this postapocalyptic world. The writing is engaging, the plot is lively, and the social dynamics are believable, even when presenting lessons. Edgmon doesn't pull any punches with this book. There's talk of murder—even cannibalism—and not everyone survives. A few strategic "screw yous" and "hell yeahs" provide some weight and authenticity. Through a story with some genuinely frightening moments, Edgmon helps readers explore identity. After all, who are we after all the systems we've used to define ourselves crumble? Fans of Patricia Forde's The List will devour this one. VERDICT A first purchase for all collections serving middle schoolers and tweens.—Taylor Worley
Kirkus Reviews
2024-07-04
In a world devastated by a solar flare, siblings embark on a perilous journey across a scorched landscape.
Stepsisters Millie and Rose are alone, caring for their baby half brother, Sammy. They decide to join forces with a multiracial band of survivors calling themselves the Lost Boys—drama camp counselor Ben and his theater troupe—as they navigate the treacherous remnants of the Appalachian wilderness. The girls hope to reach South Carolina and Millie’s maternal grandma, a Seminole elder. Millie’s struggle to preserve her Seminole heritage amid the chaos contrasts sharply with Rose’s attempts to suppress her grief and memories of her late daddy, who was white. Rose grapples with memories tied to her daddy’s stories of the Sanctuary, a mysterious community of survivors he’d hoped to reach. As the journey progresses, Rose explores questions of gender identity. Their journey is fraught with danger, especially from the Hive, a sinister and exploitative corporate group. An encounter with the Hive becomes a matter of life or death for the Lost Boys and the siblings and leads to the shocking truth about the Sanctuary. The transformation from vulnerable children to resourceful young adults culminates in a dramatic confrontation with the Hive. Edgmon’s middle-grade debut skillfully blends action and emotion, offering a compelling look at what it means to pull away from climate defeatism.
A compelling coming-of-age story focused on cultural heritage, gender, and chosen family.(Post-apocalyptic. 10-14)
