This Was Our Pact - Ryan Andrews
On the night of the annual Autumn Equinox Festival, a town floats paper lanterns down a river to celebrate. Ben and his friends make the pledge: "No one turns for home. No one looks back." And they bike along the river, determined to find out where the lanterns go. Legend has it that they drift into the sky and become stars. One by one, the kids peel off, until nerdy Nathaniel is the only one accompanying Ben. Together, they travel into the unknown, into a dreamlike, magical place (?) in which a talking bear tells them his story and helps them along. They meet a crotchety old potion-maker who helps them and then needs their help in return. This is an enthralling, fantastical tale full of twists and turns. It has a strong Japanese influence, with washed out colors that add to the ethereal tone. [4.5]
