The Tear Collector

by R.M. Romero

This darkly fantastical climate change tale explores hope, memory, and what really makes a monster—set after the end of the world.

Climate change culminated in the Flood, an enormous wave that wiped out entire countries. Malka and her younger brother Ezra survived and now live with Dr. Jonas Hollman on the Island, the only piece of land left on Earth. Scavenging useful things from the shoreline under the watchful eye of the Island’s sinister leader Mr. Gray, Malka and her family get by. Barely.

But an illness called the Sorrow is changing people into monsters when their memories of the Mainland grow too sad…and Ezra is the latest to get sick. Desperate not to lose her brother, Malka throws herself into helping “Uncle” Jonas with his research to find a cure.

Then her family’s dismal lives are turned upside down by the mysterious Olivia, who crashes a plane on the beach. More people are out there, she says. The world isn’t lost forever. To save Ezra and the other Islanders, Malka will have to uncover the secrets of her flooded world—and the lies even the people she loves have told her about the true nature of the Sorrow.

R.M. Romero tackles our fear and anxiety surrounding climate change and weaves it through with hope in this beautifully told adventure that will resonate with readers young and old.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Climate Change, Fiction, Environment, Childrens

336 pages, Hardcover

First published October 14, 2025

About the author

R. M. Romero is a Jewish Latina and author of fairy tales for children and adults. She lives in Miami Beach with her cat Henry VIII and spends her summers helping to maintain Jewish cemeteries in Poland.

Reviews

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Never forget that small acts of kindness and bravery can protect what we love, and help put the world back together when it feels broken.”

a melancholic but hopeful middle grade clifi fantasy.

after climate change finally culminates in a great flood (and the loss of polar bears), malka and her brother ezra have made life on a small island with a town of other survivors. while surviving, they've started to become affected by the Sorrow, a strange sickness brought on by hopelessness, sadness, and despair that turns people into dangerous monsters.

i always look forward to reading romero's fantastical worlds that always have a nostalgic grimm-esque style to them. the tear collector is much the same, although there is a new layer of emotion it stirs up as it deals with a very real impending danger of climate disaster. i almost found it overwhelming (due to my own eco doomism), but the lesson of this story is about talking and working through your fear and despair with your loved ones.

i especially loved the chapter openings w her creative "recipes" that keep a whimsical element throughout this darker tale. i look forward to her next book!

“We can’t always bring back what’s been lost, but what we can do is treasure and protect what’s left.”

an honest arc review ♡

[R.M. Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cli-fi fairy tale about hope, monsters, and what happens after the end of the world starring ride-or-die siblings Malka (three feral kittens in a dress) and Ezra (a cinnamon roll too pure for the apocalypse he’s living through).

(Content warnings: Child endangerment, kidnapping, natural disaster)

[Kristofer Parrott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tear Collector is honest, environmentally aware, and dripping in a dark atmosphere.

Malka and Ezra have found themselves in the wake of a flood stranded on what they believe is the last island on earth. They are in the care of one of the island’s doctors who found them washed a shore and orphaned after the great flood. Their strong bond with the doctor is a wonderful depiction of found family, though later is used to show how love and loyalty can be weaponized against you. How your family can always be chosen. It teaches that family is more than just about blood, it’s about the way someone treats you, how they value and respect you as a person. If someone decides one day use your love for them against you, you have a choice weather or not they are allowed space in your life.

Ezra and many others on the island suffer from Sorrow which causes them to sprout wings, or grow scales, mutate until Sorrow completely consumes them. This illness is deeply rooted in the grief of all they have lost to the flood and those who didn’t make it through the seas’ reckoning. R.M. Romero did a wonderful job of opening the door to conversations on environmental issues, from Malka’s thoughts on throwing bottles with letters into the ocean to Ezra’s overwhelming sadness when he thinks about the extinction of polar bears. But despite how grim things may look or get there is always hope. As the story comes to an end the wonderful final message that Malka and Ezra leave us with is that hope, and kindness are two of the greatest powers. A helpful hand, a gentle smile to a stranger, a kind word or two can make all the difference in a world where things feel hopeless.

This book has a way of speaking to not just kids but adults, it’s a perfect centerpiece for conversations about the very issues children face growing up in the world as it is. It’s a story I wish I had the chance to read as a 10-year-old with lessons I have learned as an adult but wish I would have known sooner. As someone with C-PTSD this book made me both ache and smile, it’s a book that made even me at 26 feel understood.

Thank you, R. M. Romero for the ARC
Best of luck with all your writing endeavors,
Kristofer from Book Hounds.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing middle-grade climate fiction, post-apocalyptic tale.

The Tear Collector by R.M. Romero is an intriguing post-apocalyptic tale for middle-grade readers, featuring an island community formed after a second great flood. Besides a mysterious story with young protagonists living on an isolated island where sadness can transform one into a monster, it is a cautionary tale about taking care of our world before it is too late. All is not lost, though; the story provides hope for the future by the tale’s end.

Siblings Malka and Ezra were swept away during the civilization-ending flood, ending up with other survivors on an island formed by the rising water level. They are "adopted" by a medical doctor in the new community who has dedicated his life to finding a cure for a terrible new malady called "The Sorrows' that afflicts deeply bereft, morose islanders and turns them into monstrous, animalistic creatures. Dr. Jonas Hollman is convinced that the answer to the horrifying illness lies in the tears of the people, and it becomes Malka’s job to collect samples. She follows through with determination because her beloved younger brother, Ezra, has started sprouting feathers. But when a small plane flown by a girl her own age, claiming to come from the mainland, crashes on the beach, everything changes.

Malka and Ezra were close even before the flood. She saved his life when the water came, and continues in her role as his champion when other islanders shun him when the proof he’s got "The Sorrows" comes to light. Malka is quite aggressive in her dealings with others, sometimes getting in people’s faces so quickly that she borders on unlikable. She takes nothing from nobody, except Ezra. They have developed a found family with Jonas and some of the other residents of their hotel home, complete with all the quirks that come with one formed from blood ties. However, their relationship with Jonas takes an unfortunate (and all too tragically realistic) turn as the story progresses.

The author does an amazing job creating her post-flood world, with the survival of random bits and pieces of life from before and the odd mix of buildings that literally weathered the storm. I really liked the pink hotel, where Jonas, Malka, Ezra, and others made their home as Jack’s efforts to normalize its current state continued.

The horrifying effects of "The Sorrows" absolutely gripped me, not only because of the body horror but also the uncertain internal impact on the minds of those poor afflicted individuals. Jules Gray and his henchmen, Mikos and Lukus, are dastardly, evil villains.

Due to the colorless, dreary, and always-raining setting, Olivia Diaz, the young pilot, stands out as a shockingly bright spot in the narrative from the very first. Still, it is a toss-up as to who I would name my favorite character among the three children.

I recommend THE TEAR COLLECTOR to readers of middle-grade fantasy and horror.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through Toppling Stacks Tours.

[Ellie Doud · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I loved The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero, but unfortunately this book was not for me. I enjoyed the setting. The descriptions of the hotel and island, where the characters lived, was very compelling. I also enjoyed the sibling dynamic between Malka and Ezra. It was sweet. Ezra and Olivia were well-developed and interesting. They were my favorite characters. The plot was also intriguing with a surprising twist.

However, I thought Malka was obnoxious and rude to everyone in the book. I think it is unfortunate that Romero made one of her main characters, Malka, so unlikable. I also didn’t like the fact that she had her cuss because she is a child. Another aspect I disliked was the use of “they/them” for the sorrowful ones. I found it confusing because it was only referring to one person at a time.

Overall, The Tear Collector was not a bad book, but sadly, it didn’t work for me. If the premise sounds interesting to you, then go ahead and try it. You might enjoy it more than I did.

[Marina Marcello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I’d had R.M. Romero’s books as a child because she’s honest about the world in her MG stories. The Tear Collector is a climate change fiction that also addresses mental health, and this dark tale also spreads the most important message of hope.

The Tear Collector blends speculative fiction with a touch of fantasy to address climate change and associated anxiety, family and friendship bonds, depression, and child abuse. Romero is gentle with her words but strong in her messaging, so this story is definitely for all readers.

I’m so thankful to be part of the Toppling Stacks tour! R.M. Romero is one of my favorite authors, and I gobble up all of her books! This book was definitely five stars from me.

[Atlas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tear Collector

by R.M. Romero

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Little, Brown Young Readers for the ARC! 🌊📚

Vibe Check: End-of-the-world dystopia but make it middle grade 🏝️💔, grief monsters with feathers and scales 🐦🐍, tear magic 🧪💧, found family tested by betrayal 🖤, and hope shining through the cracks like sunlight after a storm ☀️🌊. It’s sad and heavy, but also surprisingly healing.

What I Liked:
• The Sorrow = pure genius, tying grief and memory into literal transformation 🦋😭
• Malka and Ezra’s sibling bond was so tender 👫, their love is the heart of the story
• Olivia’s plane crash arrival gave total ✈️🔥 “there’s more out there” hope vibes
• Found family themes—how love can be both chosen and twisted—hit hard 💔❤️‍🩹
• Environmental threads felt urgent but not preachy 🌍💡
• The writing was lyrical and underlined-worthy ✨🖊️

What Didn’t Work for Me:
• Malka’s attitude was rough sometimes 😬 (a little too sharp for middle grade)
• Pacing dipped in the middle; could’ve tightened some scenes ⏳
• The pronoun choice for the sorrowful was a bit confusing in spots 🤔

Tropes/Elements:
• Found family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
• Hope in despair 💫
• Child hero fighting for their sibling 🛡️
• Climate dystopia 🌍💔
• Monsters as metaphors 🐉

Final Word: Dark, atmospheric, and full of aching hope, The Tear Collector is a middle grade dystopian that doesn’t talk down to kids. It asks tough questions about grief, climate, and what makes a monster—but answers with kindness, love, and resilience. A book I wish I had at 12, but still resonant at 26. 🖤

[Karis · Rating 3 out of 5]

~~Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for the ARC!~~

Another solid middle grade from Romero, but it didn't hit me quite like A Warning About Swans or The Dollmaker of Krakow.

The characters were good all around. I preferred Ezra more than Malka because I found his conflict and the deep connection it had to him becoming a Sorrow to be more compelling than Malka, though I do appreciate what Romero was representing between her and uncle Jonas. Olivia, though, is the most main character out of all of them, and she doesn't even have a point of view (Which she should have, because she could have been the grounding perspective of the weird happenings/culture of the Island as well as provide more insight to the Mainland). I just loved how she called all the adults out on their bull, and her friendship with Ezra is very sweet.

The Island itself is really interesting. The culture where no one's allowed to cry or think about the past draws interesting parallels to our world, and the settings of places like the hotel, the market, and other places were quite lovely. The Sorrows were interesting, but the solution the narrative comes up with did not feel satisfying for, whatsoever.

All in all, this is a good middle grade. It didn't absolutely wow me, but I can see its target demographic loving it, regardless.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crying happy tears! This new middle grade is a gorgeous dystopian about two siblings finding hope in despair. It's the end of the world. A massive flood has wiped out civilization as we know it, and Milka and Ezra live on an island with their Uncle Jonas, a man who has adopted them. People who fall too deeply into hopelessness are turning into monsters, human-animal hybrids. It's called the Sorrow. And Ezra is beginning to turn into a bird. Uncle Jonas is trying to cure the Sorrow, and has Milka collect tears from people so he can study them. Then a plane crashes on the beach, and Milka and Ezra realize that the people on their island might not be alone in the world.

The writing is lovely, and I kept underlining sentences. I have been shying away from dystopians/apocalypse novels because in this current political environment, I just haven't been able to stomach them. But The Tear Collector turned out to be different, full of hope and love.

I also thought the abusive adult scenario was well written. It's hard to spot abuse from a loved one as a child, because to you, they love you, and therefore would never hurt you.

This is a wonderful book for both tweens and adults.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think I was ready for how hauntingly beautiful this book would be. From the first page, R.M. Romero drags you into a drowned world that feels eerily possible where the sea has swallowed everything, and grief itself can turn people into monsters.

Following Malka through the flooded ruins of humanity was equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful. She’s fierce, angry, tender all the messy things you’d expect from someone fighting to save her little brother in a place where survival means forgetting who you were. The way Romero weaves climate collapse, memory, and myth together made me feel like I was reading a fable written at the end of the world. And the prose? Lyrical and devastating in the best way.

By the time the mysterious Olivia appeared, I was fully hooked, questioning every truth the Island’s leaders fed Malka. This isn’t just a story about monsters it’s about the ones we become when we let sorrow consume us, and the light we can still find in love, even when everything else is gone.

✨The Tear Collector left me both gutted and grateful for a dark, emotional wave that lingers long after the last page.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 plus, perfect this one.
Loved the inspiration coming from OZ, but it stands on its own with great relationships between siblings, family, acceptance of differences and diversity. It's a dystopian middle grade in a way that sounds familiar but also very eerie and fresh. I couldn't put it down. Loved the writting style of the authors, the characters' personalities and actions. Some readers will guess the villain early, but I think the author is constantly pointing and giving hints, so it's not about discovering who, but how the characters react to the truth and grow from the experience. This is a world where missing and feeling sorrow can turn you into a creature. The island is filled with them, some have lost their humanity completly, but that doesn't mean they aren't themselves. From sorrow to hope. Amazing art cover as well.

[Karen Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if we took such terrible care of the world that it ended? What if the earth had gotten so tired of all the garbage and pollution that it fought back against civilization with massive waves to wipe out everything?
How would our lives be? Separated from loved ones on a tiny island? The last of what was left of our bleak world.
That would likely make us depressed. BUT THEN, what if our sadness really changed what we looked like? Not just dark circles under the eyes and weight change, but monstrous changes. Extra spiderlike limbs, wings, eyes, or a serpentine body? What if our sorrows made us into something truly scary looking that could be feared? How would our lives be? How would people react to us?
Would there be any reason to hope?

[Dahlia (ofpagesandprint) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The Tear Collector is an atmospheric, emotional middle-grade cli-fi tale filled with monsters, love, and memories.

I absolutely adored this one. From the start, Ezra and Malka captivated me, and I loved the entertaining and well-developed characters, especially Olivia. I loved the sibling bond between Malka and Ezra and their friendship with Olivia. The emotions, love, and memories infused in this story were heartwarming and heart-wrenching, crafting an achingly beautiful and hopeful read. The world-building was incredible, presenting a dark and immersive climate change-ravaged world. The plot was engaging, and the ending was excellent. The pacing fit the story beautifully, and I did not want this fantastical tale to end. R.M. Romero’s prose was lyrical and magical. The exploration of climate change through this adventurous story was powerful and thought-provoking. The Tear Collector is a must-have for MG shelves (and fantasy shelves in general)!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think The Tear Collector makes for a great read for middle grade humans. There’s action, adventure, friendship, loyalty, and strong code to live by. Add this one to your library.

“Thank you, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”

[Mary Averling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Urgent, dreamy, and darkly lyrical as the very best fairy tales. THE TEAR COLLECTOR is timely cli-fi and timeless fantasy rolled into a heart-wrenching adventure unlike any other. Everyone needs to read this.

[Jarrett Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

A fantastic fantasy sci fi with climate change themes; great and complex characters and great concept for this world. Probably one of the best middle grade books of the year. The whole story was enthralling from start to finish.

[Jen Nishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful read by RM Romero. Her writing is just gorgeous and heartfelt. I loved how she dealt with climate change and the dystopian nature of the story without it coming across as preachy. There’s so much heart in this book.

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was so beautifully written, and an incredible read for middle graders interested in climate fiction, fantasy, and heart-wrenching (but action-packed) stories with unforgettable characters.

[Stacy McAnulty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragic circumstances but filled with hope. Powerful!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Review to be posted closer to publication.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite what I was expecting based on the professional reviews, but still good.

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book was quite slow for the first half of the book, but then really picked up and finished with a bang. i'm very glad i didn't give up on this book.

[Alena · Rating 4 out of 5]

R.M. Romero's stories seem like fairy tales; they are enchanting, but this time, although they are still captivating, touching, and they still deal with family and hope, this time, they hit very close to home, because it's about climate change. A great flood that destroyed the world. Malka and Ezra are siblings who are stranded on an island with other survivors, when a magical disease is spreading, and Malka will do everything to find a cure and heal her brother. Malka is the big sister who feels responsible for her brother; she is action and protection, a little grumpy. Meanwhile, Ezra is a dreamer and an artist. 

The disease is called sorrow and affects those who remember their life before the flood and feel nostalgia or sadness for how the world used to be. There is no cure, and little by little, those infected are covered with feathers, claws, or other animal traits. Malka helps her adoptive uncle search for a cure, collecting tears from all the people to see if they can find a cure with them.

Three years have passed, the island is not prosperous, there are frequent hurricanes, there is not much diversity in food, many fruits and vegetables do not grow there, they feel alone in the world, until one stormy night, Olivia arrives in a small plane. It's about community, being again, and found family, although it is also about realizing when something or someone is hurting you and how to leave it behind, and how remembering and crying is not something to feel bad about, but could make you stronger.

I loved the bond between the siblings and with Olivia. The three of them have different personalities, but what they have in common is that they are brave and love intensely. They form a beautiful friendship.

Overall, it's a lovely story about climate change, adaptation, resilience, and family.

Thank you so much topplingstackstours for the copy

Read it if you like:
Middle-grade stories
Prickly Main Character
Siblings bond