4 stars
For Halloween, Hughie volunteers at Harvest House, a haunted house fundraiser highlighting local ghost stories. But strange things start happening at the crossroads by Harvest House. With the help of his friends, Hughie investigates to determine whether something sinister is lurking at the crossroads.
A cool blend of mystery, supernatural elements, and current events. I went into this thinking it was horror, but quickly found it leans into spooky elements without necessarily being scary. Good for those who want to get into the Halloween spirit without having to sleep with the lights on.
Fantastically written. I was pulled in from the first page. Smith nicely works in various real-world issues such as racism, microaggressions, stereotypes, and appropriation. She also brings attention to the MMIWG2S movement without exploiting it. There are many great conversations surrounding speaking up against injustice, standing up for what you believe in, and looking out for your community.
Though the BIPOC characters have to deal with negativity, we also see them make new friends, explore new relationships, spend time with their family and larger community, and pursue creative endeavors. A well-rounded story that was entertaining, a bit spooky, and page-turning.
At the back is a short glossary of the Mvskoke and Ojibwe words used within the text.
Expertly told. A fascinating story. Though it wasn’t what I was initially expecting, it was such a satisfying read.