Common Sense Media Review
By Oliver Scout Guerisoli
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Liberating gender-queer love story has violence, sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In THE DEEP DARK, Magdalena Herrera is a high schooler caring for not just her Abuela but also her family's deepest held secret. With many responsibilities draining her energy at home and work, she finds herself confronted with the spark of an old friendship—someone she both does and doesn't want to remember. Will their budding romance risk releasing everything Mags has worked so hard to keep locked away? When things begin to unravel, she'll have to choose whether her secret becomes the death of her, or life.
Is It Any Good?
In this captivating queer coming-of-age graphic novel, love and vulnerability are brave heroes taming terrifying monsters. The pages of The Deep Dark keep turning themselves from beginning to end, with gut-punch twists and turns along the way. Tucked within this dark tale is a powerful metaphor for generational trauma, secrets, and the journey of sharing ourselves more fully with trusted loved ones. With an ending that will have readers cheering for joy and actually enjoying the heartfelt author letter from Molly Knox Ostertag describing her personal connection to the story, this book leaves its readers more brave in love and in self than when they started. Brava!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the nature of secrets and the power that can be gained in sharing them after reading The Deep Dark.
Which character was your favorite role model and why? What character strengths did they demonstrate?
How did the illustrator's use of color impact the story? What did you feel when it changed?
When was the last time you were called to be brave? What did you expect would happen? What actually happened, and how did you feel?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Molly Knox Ostertag
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School ) , Fantasy
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Graphix
- Publication date : June 4, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 480
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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