Rowan knows what they want: to be a ranger, protecting their village alongside their flying horse Kes, but when Kes is injured, Rowan is paired with lackadaisical sheep herder Leone, whose own struggles and endless support brings new possibilities. Simultaneous and eBook. Illustrations. - (Baker & Taylor)

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Being a ranger means adventure, action, and protecting the weak. But who protects the ranger when they lose their way? From the bestselling author of The Moth Keeper and the Tea Dragon Society comes a must read MG graphic novel for fans of soft sweeping fantasy romances.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD

Rowan knows exactly what they want: to be a ranger, protecting their village alongside their trusted flying horse Kes. But when Rowan's eagerness to show off their worth gets Kes injured, Rowan is suddenly unsure if they're capable of being the protector they've always dreamed of becoming. 

With Kes needing to heal, Rowan is assigned a slow and winding expedition across the outlying lands. Paired with a lackadasical sheep hearder Leone, Rowan only finds frustration as they seem to fail even the simplest tasks. But Leone's own struggles, and endless support brings a new possibility to Rowan. Could their unlikely friendship be something more? And if it is, will Rowan be able to leave Leone behind to pursue being a ranger once Kes is healed? - (Random House, Inc.)

Booklist Reviews

Aspiring ranger Rowan feels like they have a lot to prove, so it's a double blow when their flying horse, Kestrel, is injured thanks to their own recklessness and they're subsequently relegated to missions on foot, primarily with a shepherd who seemingly lacks ambition. Like most comics from O'Neill, this is slow, gentle, and lovely, with soft colors and vast skies looming over bucolic landscapes. Though Rowan is frustrated by their assignment, it forces them to slow down and pay closer attention to their surroundings, ultimately giving themself the space to make some important realizations about their own identity and aspirations. O'Neill draws out the plot with pages of wordless spreads filled with small details of what Rowan observes in the verdant surroundings. It takes nearly two-thirds of the book for Rowan to recognize the true nature of their mistake, but the pace never feels arbitrarily slow; rather, it more accurately reflects the typical trajectory of genuine growth. Readers who love emotionally grounded comics will be enchanted by this contemplative, gorgeously rendered story of the slow but steady path to self-acceptance. Grades 5-8. Copyright 2025 Booklist Reviews.