Review by Booklist Review
Something isn't right about James' new Oregon neighborhood, and it isn't just that he's missing his best friends back in Texas. When mysterious letters from "The Keeper" begin to arrive for James, he initially thinks they are the latest trick in an escalating prank war with his little sister, Ava. However, she vehemently denies this, growing spooked and determined to unravel the letters' cryptic threat of danger upon the arrival of the next Blood Moon--mere days away. The siblings team up to investigate the Keeper's dire messages, unearthing unsavory town secrets and peril in the process. McCall anchors her suspenseful novel (inspired by true events) with strong family bonds, especially between James and Ava, and she adds meaningful dimension to the central mystery with the family's Mexican heritage and shared love of horror. The recent death of Ita, the children's grandmother, also echoes through the narrative in the characters' grief as they watch videos of Ita telling her favorite scary stories and imparting wisdom. Hand this creepy tale to fans of Kate Alice Marshall's Thirteens (2020).
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A move from Texas to suburban Oregon strains the close-knit relationship between Mexican American narrator James McNichols, 12, and sister Ava, 10. The transition is made even harder by the recent death of the siblings' beloved abuelita, and the hard edge that's crept into their ongoing prank war. Though the family is welcomed by new neighbors and encouraged to join the white community, ominous letters that reference an upcoming lunar event soon arrive addressed to James from "The Keeper," warning that the boy must somehow prove his worth to keep his household safe. Already suffering from self-doubt in his new surroundings, the tween wonders if this is a deliberate attempt to make the family feel like outsiders, or if something otherworldly is afoot. James and Ava, establishing a temporary truce, race to uncover the frightening mystery of their new town. García McCall's (All the Stars Denied) warmhearted tale of sibling courage interweaves moments of genuine horror with touching scenes of familial tenderness that help buoy this mystery through a meandering start to a tidy and satisfying end. Ages 8--12. Agent: Andrea Cascardi, Transatlantic Literary. (Jan.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
James, twelve, and his precocious sister Ava, ten, have moved from Texas to Oregon with their parents, and James is bitter about having his entire life uprooted. The siblings struggle to adjust to their new surroundings, amping up a prank war to the extent that they start hurting each other's feelings for real. When the kids begin finding mysterious and threatening letters from "the Keeper" around the house, their parents assume it's all just another prank. James and Ava realize they're going to have to solve the mystery of the letters on their own, and fast, because the Blood Moon is approaching and the Keeper has warned James that he must act before then. James and Ava's Mexican American family dynamic is realistically portrayed, and secondary characters are well drawn, as well. As they investigate their neighbors and the history of their almost-too-idyllic gated community, James and Ava learn that they aren't the first children to be threatened. The story's pace is slow but the mystery is intriguing, and determined readers will be satisfied with the surprising and sinister (involving a cult and human sacrifice) denouement. (c) Copyright 2023. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
When James and his younger sister, Ava, move to a new town in a new state, they expect to encounter some differences--but their new neighborhood seems to be hiding dark secrets. Twelve-year-old Mexican American James, who is Texas born and bred, has no interest in moving to cold and rainy Oregon. He misses his two best friends, and he especially misses Ita, his maternal grandmother, who passed away shortly before the big move. Tensions are high with his parents and 10-year-old Ava, too, due in part to the siblings' ongoing prank war. Then creepy letters addressed to James from someone who signs off as "The Keeper" start appearing with warnings that he must prove himself as a member of his new community. Though at first mutually suspicious, James and Ava come to believe that neither one is behind the letters, but the erosion of trust caused by their rivalry leads their parents to believe it's just another one of their elaborate hoaxes. Now, instead of being adversaries, the siblings must work together to solve the mystery behind their secretive community. The plot is slow to build, taking time to establish the siblings' relationship and the neighbors' ostensible friendliness. Unfortunately, this leaves less time to cultivate the mystery of the letters; this storyline only really picks up around the halfway mark, and the resolution feels rushed. Part new-kid-in-town coming-of-age story, part supernatural thriller, with a slow start and a mostly satisfying end. (Horror. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
