KCU Pitchfest Showcase 2025 (Top 50)

The Planet Qualm

After a certain sort of reader finishes Kibuishi’s Amulet series they often don’t know what to read next. This book fills that void.

Once, the galaxy was filled with humans. They conquered everything, built everything, and then… they just disappeared. Starbright Academy wants to fill that gaping humanish hole in the galaxy with their new recruits: a malleable species called the Dough. Despite the Dough’s flexibility, one recruit just doesn’t fit. Falling from grace and all the way to the planet’s core, Fig learns the history that Starbright would rather keep quiet and encounters the mysterious Drune. Fig must learn to think for themself and see beyond the misinformation in order to survive the churning challenges on the Planet Qualm.

My Why:

First imagined on walks with my fifth grade son, Qualm is a planet so abused it became a literal cement mixer of underground wonder and lost, ancient architecture built by people who could agree on nothing whatsoever.
While the story began as hijinx and adventure, the real world quickly clawed its way into the tunnels of Qualm. Fig navigates the world unsure of who to trust, what is real, and who they should empathize with amidst conflicting accounts. Like middle grade readers I know, issues with misinformation, censorship, and the limitations found in labelling everything good or evil also impact Fig. Readers well-fed on pulpy adventure stories will find heroic acts of empathy and critical thinking rather than a beatdown for the bad guys.