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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I like the themes that are explored. Is a scary story but the themes are relatable for some people. Like not having stable housing, living in a shelter , having an incarcerated parent. The Spanglish wording was a plus. Is such a cute story ..
mysterious
medium-paced
A spooky ghost story for MG readers.
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Rafa loves writing scary stories. Itβs the only part of school he does well in, but when he tells a ghost story the night of the blood moon, it starts coming true. With his mom coming home soon from jail, his sister worried about his erratic behavior and a frenemy getting in his way, things are already rough for Rafa. Thank goodness he has Ms. Martin to help piece together the story of The Caretaker as he tries to stop him for good.
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This was a solid scary book for middle grade readers. I believe the underlining story about Rafa and his mom was my favorite part, as well as the bond between Rafa and Brianna, but kids will also love the spooky vibes throughout the entire novel.
CW: prison, incarceration, death, death of a sibling (recounted), injury
A little too much religion throughout the story for my tastes.
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Rafa loves writing scary stories. Itβs the only part of school he does well in, but when he tells a ghost story the night of the blood moon, it starts coming true. With his mom coming home soon from jail, his sister worried about his erratic behavior and a frenemy getting in his way, things are already rough for Rafa. Thank goodness he has Ms. Martin to help piece together the story of The Caretaker as he tries to stop him for good.
π
This was a solid scary book for middle grade readers. I believe the underlining story about Rafa and his mom was my favorite part, as well as the bond between Rafa and Brianna, but kids will also love the spooky vibes throughout the entire novel.
CW: prison, incarceration, death, death of a sibling (recounted), injury
A little too much religion throughout the story for my tastes.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-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
I received a galley of this book at the ALA conference.
This is a perfectly scary book for middle grade. Rafa is a well developed character, and his family life is relatable to many kids in America. His mom is incarcerated in prison and will be released soon for good behavior. Rafa and his sister have been living with their grandparents. Rafa loves to tell scary stories. When Rafa tells scary stories on a blood red moon the scary stories come to life and the caretaker is coming to him! Just enough spooky to leave readers leaving the light on at night. I would give this to fans of Ellen Oh or Linsday Currie.
This is a perfectly scary book for middle grade. Rafa is a well developed character, and his family life is relatable to many kids in America. His mom is incarcerated in prison and will be released soon for good behavior. Rafa and his sister have been living with their grandparents. Rafa loves to tell scary stories. When Rafa tells scary stories on a blood red moon the scary stories come to life and the caretaker is coming to him! Just enough spooky to leave readers leaving the light on at night. I would give this to fans of Ellen Oh or Linsday Currie.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is an eerie fun story with likable characters! The story was really creative and I had an absolute blast reading it. This was a great read and perfect for anyone who like spooky stories. Special Thank You to Angela Cervantes, Scholastic, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well-written, but not sure about the ultimate conclusion.
Chilling and heartfelt - these are the descriptions in the blurb, and they're quite spot on.
The story has scary moments (more than Small Spaces), freaky situations, and harrowing real-life happenings. I am really impressed with the mix of spooky-scary juxtaposed with the extremely real life that Rafa and his sister are living through, dealing with their incarcerated mother and her eminent return home, with extremely varies emotions around it. It's beautifully and skillfully handled. This emotional nuance and care with which the author tells the story make this one worth picking up.
The story has scary moments (more than Small Spaces), freaky situations, and harrowing real-life happenings. I am really impressed with the mix of spooky-scary juxtaposed with the extremely real life that Rafa and his sister are living through, dealing with their incarcerated mother and her eminent return home, with extremely varies emotions around it. It's beautifully and skillfully handled. This emotional nuance and care with which the author tells the story make this one worth picking up.