The Cartographers by Amy Zhang
Published by HarperCollins on January 31, 2023
ISBN: 0062383078
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

Amy Zhang’s “The Cartographers” is a young adult realistic fiction novel about a teen named Ocean Sun who decides to defer going to college in order to try living in New York City. As expected, Ocean has a difficult time settling in. She meets an interesting boy on the subway named Constantine Brave and they become friends, traveling across the city together. A story about finding oneself, this book covers some very heavy topics like suicide, depression, and anxiety. At times the existential dialogue can be confusing and hard to follow. Not a must-buy, but a potential additonal purchase for young adult collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.