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A review by gremlinjane
Harrison Squared by Daryl Gregory
4.0
Young adult Lovecraftian adventures in Dunnsmouth! The story was sufficiently creepy in it's setting (dreary, even) so it had that delightful Lovecraft feel. BUT! I was excited by not only the constant discussion of race that was popping up (which deftly counters the racism that was so readily apparent in H.P.'s original stories).
Also, our protagonist was disabled (having lost a leg in a tragic sea "accident" when he was quite young). It was so great to have this sort of diversity in my ya fiction - but also to have this be part of the story but to not have it BE the story. So kudos to the author for all those things!
The only real downside to this adventure tale was that it did THE THING I can't stand in YA. You think you're reading a stand alone story and then get punched at the end with the obvious set-up for another book. Dang it! At least there was some sense of ending and we weren't left totally unfulfilled - but sheesh. I wish I'd known going in.
Also, our protagonist was disabled (having lost a leg in a tragic sea "accident"
The only real downside to this adventure tale was that it did THE THING I can't stand in YA. You think you're reading a stand alone story and then get punched at the end with the obvious set-up for another book. Dang it! At least there was some sense of ending and we weren't left totally unfulfilled - but sheesh. I wish I'd known going in.