Bastián and Lore (both Mexican American and nonbinary) had each heard the stories about the world under the lake, but like everyone else, they believed it was just “lakelore”—until they ended up there together as children. Now teenagers, the two have become reacquainted, and Lore will be starting at Bastián’s school. Both are struggling in their own ways: Lore recently fought a bully who had tormented them for years due to their dyslexia; and Bastián, who is just starting on testosterone, has ADHD, doesn’t understand how to do their injections, and feels too ashamed to ask for help. Bastián also struggles with emotional regulation, overthinking, and anxiety; on bad days, they make papier-mache alebrijes (a Mexican art form) and release them into the underwater world, where the alebrijes come to life. As Lore and Bastián grow closer, the underwater world begins expanding and encroaching on their existence, flooding their streets and houses—perhaps in an attempt to deliver a lesson about self-acceptance and self-love. A dreamlike, magical love story remains firmly grounded in Lore’s and Bastián’s lives, identities, and perspectives; readers with dyslexia and ADHD may feel deeply seen, while others will benefit from concrete descriptions of these appealing characters’ particular experiences.  (Age 14 and older)