Thief of the Heights
by Son M.; illus. by Robin Yao
Middle School, High School    HarperAlley/HarperCollins    240 pp.
10/24    9780063067332    $26.99
Paper ed.  9780063067325    $18.99
e-book ed.  9780063067349    $10.99

In the distant dystopian-future setting of this graphic novel towers the monumental stacked city of Muqadas, where each level dictates the quality of life of its citizens. A trio of adolescent friends—Basem, Mustafa, and Aarfah—resides in the lower region of Saha, a tier plagued by a water-polluting virus that infects the limbs and must ultimately be treated by amputation. Using their engineering skills, Basem and Mustafa generate prosthetic legs from scrap metal for Aarfah. Their ingenious efforts attract a scout from the tiers above, granting them an opportunity for social mobility and a chance at a new life. But what must they compromise to achieve this status? A story of class divisions, exploitation, and marginalization unfolds in this segmented world that mirrors real-world health inequities and socioeconomic injustices. The forest greens and indigo blues punctuated by glowing candlelight in the lower tiers clash with the pastel-hued opulence of the upper regions, symbolizing the disconnect and social disparity between the tiers. Dynamic characterization and atmospheric world-building in a setting with echoes of contemporary Muslim society engender a fantastically allegorized tale touching on themes of social stratification, solidarity, friendship, queer relationships, survival, and hope in a world fractured by enduring class struggles.

From the ">January/February 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.