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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
ofpagesandparagraphs's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Hate crime, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Blood
library_kb's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
ALC through Educator ALC Program from @Librofm
I think that this is a great mystery to add to classroom libraries because it is so subtly informative throughout. It is a true mishmash of genres: mystery, fantasy (with the ghosts that only some can see and communicate with), historical fiction--so it can be recommended to lots of students and help them branch out from their comfort zone. The book does have a slower pace, mostly due to setting up the setting, and that pacing and the details pay off when the mystery is solved because you can see how all the details were there all along, but students who are used to fast-paced books may need to be encouraged to stick with the book longer in order to really get into it. I really liked how the mystery and its solution were tied in with the effects of racism through history. I did have a little trouble (since the ghosts who kept showing up were from a variety of time periods) figuring out what time period the book was taking place, which might confuse students who are not super familiar with American history events yet. But, overall, really enjoyed this book--great for 5th grade and up.
I think that this is a great mystery to add to classroom libraries because it is so subtly informative throughout. It is a true mishmash of genres: mystery, fantasy (with the ghosts that only some can see and communicate with), historical fiction--so it can be recommended to lots of students and help them branch out from their comfort zone. The book does have a slower pace, mostly due to setting up the setting, and that pacing and the details pay off when the mystery is solved because you can see how all the details were there all along, but students who are used to fast-paced books may need to be encouraged to stick with the book longer in order to really get into it. I really liked how the mystery and its solution were tied in with the effects of racism through history. I did have a little trouble (since the ghosts who kept showing up were from a variety of time periods) figuring out what time period the book was taking place, which might confuse students who are not super familiar with American history events yet. But, overall, really enjoyed this book--great for 5th grade and up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Racism, Racial slurs, and Murder
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.0
Ireland is excellent at writing alternative history. Ophie sees ghosts, and when her and her mom start working at a house in the 1920s filled with ghosts, Ophie wants to help them. I enjoyed the way that Ireland works the ghosts into a story about Ophie's own grief after her father is killed. You're pulled into Ophie's story from the beginning, and the mystery behind the ghosts at the manner really drives the story forward.
Plus, the narrator of the audiobook was amazing. I would say that Ireland's foray into middle grade was definitely a success!
Plus, the narrator of the audiobook was amazing. I would say that Ireland's foray into middle grade was definitely a success!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Racial slurs, and Racism
tinytrashqueen's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death
rhiannonafternoon's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Death of parent
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