Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Isolated teens forge forbidden romance in tender novel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Seventeen-year-old ICARUS leads a lonely life as an art thief for his father. He breaks into an art collector's home, steals paintings, and replaces them with his father's forgeries. Because of these activities, he isn't allowed to make close friends. He can't hang out with people outside of school or invite people to his home. One day, the collector's son, Helios, catches him on a job. Helios is lonely also; he's not allowed to leave his house. The two of them turn to each other for friendship and, eventually, romance. But will their new bond be strong enough to free them from their controlling fathers and traumatic pasts?
Is It Any Good?
This sensitive depiction of teens who face the world without adequate parental support will speak to many teens, and it's suspenseful, near-thriller like plot keeps the pages turning. In Icarus by K. Ancrum, the main character suffers from his father's choice to be involved in a criminal enterprise, forcing him to cobble together an unconventional support system -- just one friend in each class -- plus a forbidden friend under house arrest who becomes his only confidante. The short chapters mirror the main characters' quick, strong bonds that develop in the context of trauma. Ancrum's thoughtful, authentic representation of chronic illness and intersex identity begin to bridge a critical gap in young adult literature. The story presents emotional truths many readers can relate to while delivering a highly original, simmering mystery plot.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role of secrets in Icarus. When is it wrong to keep a secret? When is it necessary? Has curiosity ever led you to discover something you didn't want to know?
One theme of Icarus is living outside of the law and making your own rules. How does compassion serve as a guardrail to the characters decisions to break laws? When does it fail to prevent people from causing harm?
In Greek mythology, Helios is a sun god and Icarus is a boy who dies after flying too close to the sun using wings affixed to his body with wax. Have you read those myths -- or would you like to? Why do you think the author made those allusions? What's the difference between courage and recklessness?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Curiosity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperTeen
- Publication date : March 26, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : December 3, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate