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nrogers_1030's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This is my third Justina Ireland book & I cannot get enough! I love her twist on things! Great story & not too scary for younger readers. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is fantastic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racism, Hate crime, Classism, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Infidelity
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, and Death
Minor: Slavery
daycia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Hate crime
charmingreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
this book is so good! i’m really surprised it’s not talked about more. i love ophie so much, she’s such a sweet character. the story is very beautiful and i highly recommend reading it.
age rating: 12+
age rating: 12+
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Murder, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs
jackelz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Who doesn’t love a good ghost story?
I love that this was a combination of historical fiction and fantasy… a combo I’m not sure I’ve read outside of Justina Ireland books and I’m here for it! The story covered the horrors and history of racism so well; it’ll make for great conversation with the kiddos.
Ophie herself is a force of hope as she helps the ghosts move on to the afterlife and shows the truth to those who are still living. Every character, ghost and living, has a backstory and is so well done. The point of view is mostly Ophie’s, but the old house, Daffodil Manor, and the City of Pittsburgh, also have a voice — which I found to be a very interesting perspective.
I hope Justina Ireland continues to write Middle Grade books because I absolutely adored this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Hate crime and Racial slurs
Minor: Slavery
sunshine8473773's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Slavery, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Racial slurs, and Racism
bookdragon217's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
clarabooksit's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Well crafted from beginning to end, this is a thoughtful, satisfying read. And Ophie is such a fantastic character: a thinker whose determination carries her through grief, surprise and confusion. She’s curious, observant, lonely, loves to read, and is a little resentful but never unkind.
I also loved how Ireland built the world around Ophie, using relationships, places, and movement. A silent mother, bullies for cousins, cookies and gossip from cook, the motions of going up and down stairs, a dusty attic, salt and iron in her pocket, the side of town that makes Ophie feel safe—it’s so good! Likewise, history gives this story so much nuance and presence, especially amongst the ghosts who embody it.
This is a great book with a fantastic lead, an intriguing mystery, and impeccable world-building. I listened to the audiobook, which is read by Bahni Turpin, and I loved it.
I also loved how Ireland built the world around Ophie, using relationships, places, and movement. A silent mother, bullies for cousins, cookies and gossip from cook, the motions of going up and down stairs, a dusty attic, salt and iron in her pocket, the side of town that makes Ophie feel safe—it’s so good! Likewise, history gives this story so much nuance and presence, especially amongst the ghosts who embody it.
This is a great book with a fantastic lead, an intriguing mystery, and impeccable world-building. I listened to the audiobook, which is read by Bahni Turpin, and I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Hate crime
naomiysl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
SO so amazingly deep. I'ts not that common to find such a heavy set of topics handled so well and gently without minimizing their depth in the least. The last 3rd of the book features a slow build to disaster that becomes more and more inevitable, tension drawn out masterfully. World building is entirely on-point, both for historicity and for the fantasy elements.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Violence
Minor: Child death, War, and Alcoholism
Explicit and pervasive treatment of the racial realities and tensions in place in 1920s USA.writtenbydnicole's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Murder, Slavery, and Violence
Minor: Cursing and Gore