Eighty Days OGN

August 9, 2021
Three protagonists—light-skinned Jay, who has glasses and an undercut; light-skinned, light-haired Fix; and dark-skinned, dark-haired Sable—navigate aviation guild AVO’s methodical consolidation of world governments in this queer historical romance, set in a post-war, early 20th-century-esque world filled with fighter planes, trains, and blimps. Pilots Jay and Sable work for AVO, which owns all equipment and personnel and inhibits those unregistered with AVO from work or societal advancement. When street urchin Fix charters Jay to deliver him to Central, Jay becomes embroiled in Fix’s revolution to empower no-class people against AVO, paralleling Sable’s journey as promotion further entrenches her. Debut graphic novelist Esguerra’s grayscale art, filled with sweeping, thick lines and tonal washes, builds the brooding atmosphere as the world plunges deeper in turmoil, romance blossoms between Jay and Fix, and the trio grapples with AVO’s burgeoning grip on all of society. Told in a semi-epistolary format via entries in Jay’s flight logbook and telegrams, this haunting, slow-burning exploration of the consequences of fascist capitalism soars, with the compelling romance between Jay and Fix as its primary fuel. Ages 13–up. Agent: Kate McKean, Morhaim Literary. (Sept.)■

Starred review from September 15, 2021
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Jay wants nothing more than to fly, and that means he has to fly for AVO, the largest aviation guild in the world. When a young thief, Fix, books a flight he can't pay for, Jay brings him on as a co-pilot to pay off his debt. The two communicate through Jay's logbook in the noisy aircraft, and Fix's natural affinity for radio and navigational calculations makes him an impressive asset to Jay. Sable, Jay's long-time friend, is an engineer with AVO, but when the group starts building an empire, she quickly ascends the ranks and makes it her duty to bring in the fugitives Fix and Jay, who have become part of a resistance to AVO's growing totalitarianism. Sable must decide where her true loyalties lie. The narration and most dialogue is told through Jay's journal entries in his logbook and through telegrams between characters. Esguerra's illustrations utilize many dark and swirling brushstrokes that reflect the chaotic nature of the world, with other heavy pen, ink, and black watercolor details for a rich page. Jay and Fix's lovely relationship brings a sweet element to a world that is otherwise very violent. This would be ideal for grown-up fans of Alex Alice's Castle in the Stars series or fans of WWI-era historical fiction comics who want something with a slightly fantastical feel.

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