By Tae Keller
Random House Books for Young Readers / Random House, 2026
265 pages
978-0-593-48558-3
Age 11 and older
The bonds of Nomi, Vi, and Arthur’s childhood friendship have begun to fray. Nomi (white) is mystified by Vi’s preoccupation with her cell phone, while Arthur (white) has pulled away from both girls due to his sudden, intense crush on Nomi. Vi (Korean/white) has been texting popular, athletic Lucas, whom she likes and trusts. When she sends him a selfie in her bra, though, he violates her trust by sharing the photo with other boys. Nomi launches a physical fight with Lucas in retaliation, while Arthur struggles with whether to keep quiet about Lucas’s act or tell the principal; supporting Nomi and Vi would likely mean losing his male friends. The three have all but forgotten the odd book of prophecies they found years earlier, filled with one-liners that somehow came true. But when Vi comes to school in a pink skirt instead of her usual jeans, and wildfires turn the Seattle sky gray, Nomi recognizes evidence of the ominous final prophecy that begins, “Pink and gray both on one day.” The remainder suggests disaster, reuniting the reluctant trio of seventh graders on a mission to find a possible second volume. Keller’s skillful plotting allows the story’s threads to be seamlessly woven into a conclusion that respects the uncertainty and bravery of three young teens navigating a shifting landscape and ultimately finding strength as individuals and in their friendship. Short interludes from the perspective of trees speak to the resilience of people and nature even when fire sparks. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center