Thirteens

Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for an arc of this book.

I had a great time with this book. To fully give this book justice I suggest reading it at Halloween if you can. It's pitched as Coraline x Stranger Things. To me, it reminds me much more of Sawkill Girls but for a younger audience.

I appreciate that this book moves so fast and keeps you so engaged. It easily falls into the MG ranks of Small Spaces and Ghost Squad.

I didn't realize it would be a series when I picked it up but I would definitely like to revisit these three!

After a traumatic event with her mother, Eleanor moves in with her aunt and uncle that live in a small, pleasant town. It's the town her mother said never to go to, but after recent events Eleanor isn't feeling very trusting towards her mother. The town seems pleasant even though she keeps seeing things she shouldn't. Things that shouldn't exist and no one else sees. Until she meets Otto and Pip who happen to share the same birthday, Halloween and who happen to see the “wrong things” too. So Eleanor, Otto, and Pip are learning about the town's sinister secret and how they fit into it and it's up to them to stop it.

This was a great adventure but also heartbreaking in so many ways. The book tackles some big feelings and tough subjects that many kids face which made me love it more. The friendship that starts to form between the three has me excited to see where the three go in the next book. And the imagery of the wrong things and some of the characters is so well done.

4.5 on storygraph

i really enjoyed this one!!! the vibes were spot on and i felt for a middle grade it really show complex emotions through the loss/grief elements the characters face

parts of the lore were a bit confusing but im hoping the next two books help to remedy that factor!!

i'm definitely gonna read on and i definitely recommend!!

I'm in the middle of a bit of a Middle Grade Madness trying to catch up on some JF I wanted to read and never got around to.
This one is awesome, but be forewarned that it will be a series so it doesn't wrap up. Sadly, my wait to read the Brackebeast has just begun.
Eleanor Barton
Otto Ellis
Pip Foster
All are residents of Eden El, a charmingly creepy town and all are about to turn 13, on Halloween.
I thought this was incredible and cannot wait to read more of the story. I just hope I remember it by the time it comes out.